Polarity of Bonds

Polarity refers to the physical properties of compounds such as boiling point, melting points and
their solubilities. The polarity of bonds is caused due to the interaction of the bonds between
molecules and atoms with different electronegativities.

Definition of Polarity

“A state or a condition of an atom or a molecule having positive and also negative charges,
especially in case of magnetic or an electrical poles.”

Polarity Of Molecules

The bond or the molecular polarities are related to the electronegativities of the atoms or the
molecules. A molecule can basically be either polar molecule, non-polar molecule or an ionic
molecule.

Polar Molecules

A polar molecule usually forms when the one end of the molecule is said to possess a number of
positive charges and whereas the opposite end of the molecule has negative charges. Thus, they end
up creating an electrical pole. In a molecule having a polar bond, the centre of the negative charge
will be on one side. Whereas the centre of positive charge will be on the different side. The entire
molecule will be a polar molecule.

Non- Polar Molecules

A molecule which does not have the charges present at the end due to the reason that electrons are
finely distributed and those which symmetrically cancel out each other are the non- polar molecules.
In a solution, we cannot mix a polar molecule with the non-polar molecule. For example, consider
water and oil. In this solution, water is the polar molecule. On the other hand, oil behaves as a non-
polar molecule. These two molecules do not form a solution. This is because they cannot ever be
mixed up.

Examples of Polar and Nonpolar Molecules

A molecule may be polar or Non-polar. A non-polar molecule has the structure of its atoms lined up
in a way that the orbital electrons in the outer region cancel out the electronegativity. In general,
pyramid-shaped and V-shaped molecules are said to be polar. Whereas the Linear molecules said to
be non-polar in nature.
Factors on which the Polarity of Bonds Depends
1) Relative Electronegativity of Participating Atoms

Since the bond polarity involves pulling of electrons towards itself, hence a more electronegative
element will be able to attract the electrons more towards itself. As a result, the electrons will
definitely move towards the more electronegative element. The amount of their shifting will depend
upon the relative electronegativity of the participating atoms.

2) The Spatial Arrangement of Various Bonds in the Atom

The shared pair of electrons also experience pulling force from the other bonded and non-bonded
pair of electrons. This results in different bond polarity between same participating atoms that are
present in different molecules. For e.g. Bond Polarity of O-H bond in a water molecule and acetic
acid molecule is different. This is due to the different spatial arrangement of various bonds in the
molecule.