Polarity in Chemistry: Understanding the Basics and Real-World Impact
Polarity-non polarity When discussing the distribution of electric charge within a molecule, polarity and non-polarity are used: When a molecule's electron distribution is unequal and positive and negative charges are separated, the molecule is said to be polar. This happens when there is a dipole moment created by the difference in electronegativity between the atoms in the molecule. A well-known example of a polar molecule is water (H2O). When a molecule's electron distribution is uniform and it lacks a dipole moment, the molecule is said to be nonpolar. This often occurs when the molecular structure is symmetrical or when the atoms have equal electronegativities. Methane (CH4) is a type of nonpolar molecule. Because it influences a molecule's physical and chemical characteristics, such as its solubility and interactions with other molecules, polarity is crucial to chemistry. Image source: Quora.com...