What makes a molecule polar or nonpolar?
Polar molecules occur when there is an electronegativity difference between the bonded atoms. Nonpolar molecules occur when electrons are shared equal between atoms of a diatomic molecule or when polar bonds in a larger molecule cancel each other out.
What qualifies a molecule as being polar?
Polar molecules are those that possess regions of positive and negative charge. Water is an example of a polar material. The type of bonds it has, when coupled with its shape, gives one end of the molecule a slight positive charge (the hydrogen end) and the other a slight negative charge (the oxygen end).
How do you know which molecule is more polar?
The larger the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms, the more polar the bond. To be considered a polar bond, the difference in electronegativity must >0.4 on the Pauling scale.