Polarity Chemistry | Polar and Non-Polar Molecules

Definition of Polarity

Polarity Chemistry | Polar and Non-Polar Molecules: The term polarity is used to describe the electric field around a molecule. The polarity of a molecule is determined by the electronegativity of the atoms in the molecule. The most electronegative atom will pull the electrons away from the other atoms in the molecule. This will create a positive charge on the most electronegative atom and a negative charge on the other atoms.

What is Polarity in Chemistry?

Polarity is a measure of how electron-rich or electron-poor a molecule is. In general, polar molecules have more electron-rich ends and electron-poor ends. This uneven distribution of electrons creates a dipole moment, which is a measure of the molecule’s polarity.

Polarity of Molecules

Polarity of molecules is a measure of the extent to which the constituent atoms are displaced from their equilibrium positions. A polar molecule is one in which the electron pushing elements, such as oxygen and nitrogen, are more electronegative than the electron pulling elements, such as hydrogen. This results in the molecule having a net positive or negative charge at one end.

Non- Polar Molecules

A molecule or atom which does not have any charges present at the end due to the reason that electrons are equally distributed and those which symmetrically cancel out each other are the non- polar molecules. In a solution, a polar molecule cannot be mixed with the non-polar molecule. For example, take water and oil. In this, water is a polar molecule whereas oil acts as a non- polar molecule. These two molecules do not form a solution as they cannot be mixed up together.

Polar and Non- polar Molecules Examples

Water is an example of a polar molecule. Methane is an example of a nonpolar molecule.

Glucose is one more example of a polar molecule based on the configuration of the oxygen and hydrogen atoms in it.

Glucose is a six-carbon sugar molecule. It is a monosaccharide, meaning that it is one of the simplest types of sugars. Glucose is a polar molecule, with a charged oxygen atom on one side and a charged hydrogen atom on the other. This polarity gives it a sweet taste and enables it to dissolve in water.

Bond Polarity Example

Water is a polar molecule. This means that the electrons in the water molecule are not evenly distributed. One side of the water molecule has a slight negative charge, and the other side has a slight positive charge.

Factors on which the Polarity of Bonds Depend

• The polarity of a bond is determined by the electronegativity of the atoms involved in the bond. The more electronegative atom pulls electron density away from the less electronegative atom, making the bond more polar.
• The polarity of a bond between two atoms is determined by a number of factors, including the type of atoms involved, the distance between them, and the presence of any other atoms nearby.
• The polarity of a bond between two atoms of the same type is usually nonpolar, because the electrons are shared equally between them. However, if the atoms are close together, the electrons may be pulled more towards one atom than the other, making the bond polar.
• If the atoms involved are different types, the polarity of the bond will depend on how easily the different atoms can share electrons. If the atoms are very different, it will be difficult for them to share electrons, and the bond will be polar. If the atoms are more similar, the bond will be nonpolar.
• The presence of other atoms nearby can also affect the polarity of a bond. If there are other atoms nearby, they can pull electrons away from the bond, making it more polar.

What are the Factors that Determine Whether a Molecule Is Polar?

The polarity of a molecule is determined by a number of factors, including the number of polar bonds, the geometry of the molecule, and the presence of charge. Polarity is a measure of how electron-rich a molecule is. The more electron-rich a molecule is, the more polar it is. There are several factors that determine how electron-rich a molecule is, including the number of electron-donating groups and the number of electron-withdrawing groups.