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>
> Dr. Northrup
>
> While studying, I realized I really didn't know the difference between
> covalent and polar bonds. What are they and when do you expect them? Then
> there are polar covalent bonds. Please help. Thanks!
>
> xxxxxxxx
Covalent bond = a bond in which the electrons are shared by the partner atoms.
Polar bond = simply a type of covalent bond in which the electrons are
shared but not equally. This happens when two different atoms come
together, such a C and O. Each atom has a different ability to draw
electrons to itself when it shares electrons (that drawing ability is
called Electronegativity).
Nonpolar bond = two of the same atoms come together, such as the
diatomic molecule N2, or triatomics such as O3, etc. A nonpolar
covalent bond could be viewed as having "pure" covalent character. There is
perfectly equal sharing.
example: water H-O-H has two polar bonds. Since this molecule is
Bent, those two polar bonds ADD TOGETHER to produce a molecule with a
dipole moment. That is, a polar molecule.
example: carbon dioxide O=C=O has two polar bonds also. Since this
molecule is Linear, those two polar bonds ADD TOGETHER to cancel each
other out, to produce a molecule with NO dipole moment. That is, a
nonpolar molecule.
1. First look at each chemical bond in the molecule and determine whether it is
a polar bond or not. A
bond will be polar any time the two atoms in the bond have different
electronegativities. This happens
essentially any time the two atoms are different. For example, C-0 is polar C-C
is not. However,
consider a C-H bond as essentially nonpolar, since the EN's are so close to each
other.
2. Represent each polar bond as a vector in space, radiating out from the
central atom.
3. Add the vectors together mentally. IF the symmetry of the molecule causes
these vectors to add to get a
zero vector, you will end up with a NONPOLAR molecule.
e.g. O=C=O is linear, with two polar bonds <---C---> pointing in opposite
directions. The molecule
is NONPOLAR.
S
e.g. / \ H2S is polar, since the two vectors add to get a net dipole
vector.
H H
Polarity will have very tremendous consequences as we shall see in the study
of liquids and solids (condensed phases).
Polar and NonPolar Molecules
by Ron Kurtus (revised 13 September 2005)
The arrangement or geometry of the atoms in some molecules is such that one end of the molecule
has a positive electrical charge and the other side has a negative charge. If this is the case, the
molecule is called a polar molecule, meaning that it has electrical poles. Otherwise, it is called a
nonpolar molecule. Whether molecules are polar or nonpolar determines if they will mix to form a
solution or that they don't mix well together.
Questions you may have include:
• What is a polar molecule?
• What is an example of a nonpolar molecule?
• What rule is there to determine if substances will form solutions?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a miniquiz near the end of the lesson.
Polar molecules
Chemical bonding is the result of either an atom sharing one or more outer orbit electrons with
another atom or an atom taking outer orbit electrons from the atom with which it is bonding.
Normally, an atom has an even distribution of electrons in the orbits or shells, but if more end up on
one side that the other in a molecule, there can be a resulting electrical field in that area.
Water
Water is a polar molecule because of the way the atoms bind in the molecule such that there are
excess electrons on the Oxygen side and a lack or excess of positive charges on the Hydrogen side of
the molecule.
Water is a polar molecule with positive charges
on one side and negative on the other
Gases
Examples of polar molecules of materials that are gases under standard conditions are: Ammonia
(NH3), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S).
Nonpolar molecules
A nonpolar molecule is one that the electrons are distributed more symmetrically and thus does not
have an abundance of charges at the opposite sides. The charges all cancel out each other.
The electrical charges in nonpolar Carbon Dioxide are evenly distributed
Liquids
Most hydrocarbons are nonpolar molecules. Examples include Toluene and Gasoline. (See
Hydrocarbon Bonding for more information.)
Gases
Common examples of nonpolar gases are the noble or inert gases, including Helium (He), Neon
(Ne), Krypton (Kr) and Xenon (Xe). Other nonpolar gases include the Hydrogen (H2), Nitrogen
(N2), Oxygen (O2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Ethylene (C2H4) molecules.
Rule for solutions
The rule for determining if a mixture becomes a solution is that polar molecules will mix to form
solutions and nonpolar molecules will form solutions, but a polar and nonpolar combination will
not form a solution.
Water is a polar molecule and oil is a nonpolar molecule. Thus they won't form a solution. On the
other hand, since alcohol is a polar molecule, it will form a solution with water.
Summary
The geometry of atoms in polar molecules is such that one end of the molecule has a positive
electrical charge and the other side has a negative charge. Nonpolar molecules do not have charges
at their ends. Mixing molecules of the same polarity usually results in the molecules forming a
solution.
High School Chemistry: Reasons Carbon
High School Chemistry: Reasons Carbon Dioxide Has a NonPolar Bond
Carbon Dioxide; Wikimedia Commons
Atoms are connected to each other to form molecules by electrostatic forces. Such atoms are said to
be bonded to each other, and the uniting force is called a chemical "bond." Some atoms pull the
electrons of the other atoms toward them, taking on a negative net charge. The other atoms take on a
positive net charge. If appropriate charge distribution vectors are drawn, the result may be polar or
nonpolar.
Example of a Polar Bond
1.
Figure 1. Water molecule vectors and vector sum. Image by Author
Consider the case of water, which is made up of three atoms. One atom is an oxygen atom,
and the other two are much smaller hydrogen atoms. The structure of water looks a bit like a
mouse's head with its two ears (representing the two hydrogen atoms) being at the top of the
head.
The oxygen pulls the electrons from the hydrogen atoms closer to itself, thus taking on a
negative charge. The hydrogen atoms represent two positive charges. If each hydrogen has a
charge vector drawn between it and the oxygen, and the two vectors are then added in the
usual fashion that vectors are added together, the resultant vector has a greater magnitude
than the individual ones. The molecule is termed "polar" (see Figure 1).
When Atoms Are the Same
2. Consider a simple twoatom molecule of oxygen, O₂. In this instance, the two atoms are
identical. They pull at electrons equally, resulting in no net difference in charge for either
atom. There is no force vector. The bond is nonpolar. This isn't the only situation that
produces nonpolar bonds, however.
When Atoms Are Different
3. Some molecules are made up of two different atoms. Consider, for example, the poisonous
gas carbon monoxide, CO. Carbon monoxide, because the atoms are different, does
experience a force vector and the molecule is polar.
Why Carbon Dioxide Is NonPolar
4. If carbon monoxide is nonpolar, why is carbon dioxide, CO₂ ,nonpolar? Carbon dioxide is
a linear molecule. Although the carbon oxygen bonds form force vectors, one points one
way, and the other points in the exact opposite direction. The net result is that the vectors
cancel each other and the bonds are said to be nonpolar.
An Extra Insight
5. Does this mean there are no polar effects for carbon dioxide? Not totally. Bonds are
"flexible." When the bonds receive an energy input that results in the atoms being flexed
"sideways," there is a small net vector generated momentarily. Such effects can be studied by
means of spectroscopy.