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Structure and bondingPolar and non-polar molecules

Elements are held together in different ways and the properties of chemical compounds are determined by the bonding between atoms and the attractive intermolecular forces between molecules.

Part of ChemistryChemical changes and structure

Polar and non-polar molecules

A substance that contains polar covalent bonds may not be overall polar. This is due to the shape of the molecule.

A water molecule

Water molecules are polar molecules. Both of the bonds inside the molecule are polar bonds.

Due to the non-symmetrical shape of the molecule (bent), the molecule itself is polar (it has a \(\delta-\) and \(\delta+\) side).

Carbon tetrachloride has four polar covalent bonds. It is a tetrahedral molecule, so the charges are symmetrical.

Carbon tetrachloride molecule is slightly positive around central carbon atom. It鈥檚聽 surrounded by three slightly negative chlorine atoms. Non-polar due to charges not being at either end of molecule.

The \(\delta+\) part of the molecule (the carbon atom) is locked away at the centre and no matter what direction you approach the molecule from you see a \(\delta-\) charge.

This means that the molecule itself is non-polar due to symmetry.

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