Polarity of

Molecules
Physical Science
 LEARNING
COMPETENCIES
Determine if a molecule is polar or
non-polar given its structure

Relate the polarity of a molecule to its

properties
 CHEMICAL
BONDS
•are formed when atoms lose,
gain, or share electrons.
Ionic bond
Covalent bond
 IONIC BOND
• When there is a transfer of one or
more valence electrons form one
atom to another.

• It exists between metal and

nonmetal atoms where a metal
loses electron/s while the nonmetal
element accepts the electron/s
donated by metal.
COVALENT BOND
• Electron pairs are being
shared by both atoms

• When two nonmetal

atoms combine, neither
of them loses or
gains electron
COVALENT BOND
•Polar bond
•Non-Polar bond

Let’s watch this:

 Polar vs. Non-Polar Molecules
Polarity in a molecules determines whether or
not electrons in that molecule are shared
equally.

When determining the polarity of a molecule, it

is all about symmetry.
symmetry
 Asymmetric molecules tend to be polar.
 Symmetric molecules are always non-polar.
When determining the polarity of a
molecule, follow these steps:
STEP 1-Draw the Electron/Lewis Dot
structure of the molecule.
When determining the polarity of a
molecule, follow these steps:
• STEP 2-Using
2- the electronegativity chart
determine the difference in
electronegativity for each bond.

• 0—0.5 = Non-polar Covalent Bond

• 0.6—1.9 = Polar Covalent Bond
• For example, you are asked to predict what
type of bond is present between the
following pairs of atoms by determining their
electronegativity difference.

1. Ca and Cl
2. Cl and Cl
3. H and Cl
The molecule is non-polar if :
1. Each bond in the molecule is non-polar and there
are no unbonded electron pairs.

2. Each bond in the molecule has the same polarity and

there are no unbonded electron pairs on the central
atom.

3. There is no net dipole moment (all moments cancel

out)
The molecule is polar if:
1. There is a net dipole moment
2. Each bond in the molecule is non-polar, but
there are unbonded electron pairs on the
central atom.
3. Bonds in the molecule have different
polarities and/or there
4. Are unbonded electron pairs on the central
atom.
Dipole Moment
Direction of the polar bond in a molecule.
Arrow points toward the more e-neg
atom.

 + H Cl
 -
 POLAR
MOLECULES
• The effect of polar bonds on the polarity of the
entire molecule depends on the molecule shape
• water has two polar bonds and a bent shape; the highly electronegative
oxygen pulls the e- away from H = very polar!
Determining Molecular Polarity
• Therefore, polar molecules have...
• asymmetrical shape (lone pairs) or
• asymmetrical atoms

CHCl3 net
dipole
Cl
moment
Cl
Cl
You can predict the shape or molecular
geometry of a substance using the following
steps:
• Step 1: Determine the central atom of a molecule. The
central atom is the least electronegative element.
• Step 2: Draw the appropriate Lewis dot structure for the
molecule.
• Step 3: Count the number of bonding pairs of electrons
and non-bonding (or lone pairs) around the central atom.
You can predict the shape or molecular
geometry of a substance using the following
steps:
• Step 4: Determine the electron pair orientation
using the total number of electron pairs.

• Step 5: Name the shape based on the location of the

atoms
 Nonpolar Molecules
• Dipole moments are symmetrical and
cancel out.
F

BF3
B

F F
Polar Molecules
• Dipole moments are asymmetrical and
don’t cancel .
• Molecule has a net dipole moment.

O net
H2O dipole
H moment
H
Sample Table
 ACTIVITY
Lewis EN Bond Molecular Polarity of
Molecule
Structure Polarity Geometry Molecule

• PCl5

• BeCl2

• CH4

• OF2

• SF6
 Answer the following questions:
1. Ammonia (NH3) is a polar molecule
while boron trifluoride (BF3) is a
nonpolar molecule. Explain the
difference in the polarity of these
compounds.
 Answer the following questions:
2. Suppose that AB3E, a hypothetical
molecule, is discovered. Predict whether
the molecule is polar or nonpolar by
determining its molecular shape.

• Note:
A – corresponds to the central atom,
B - terminal atom
E – lone pair (nonbonding electrons)