Polar Vs Nonpolar

[Diana_Diep2I]

How can we tell if a molecule is polar or nonpolar? For example: CH2Cl2. How would I be able to find the forces that occur between that molecule besides London forces?

[Diana_Diep2I]

to rephrase: How can I tell when a molecule has a dipole moment?

[SnehinRajkumar1L]

You can look at the electronegativity of the atoms and molecular shape/geometry.

[LReedy_3C]

Also, if the shape/geometry of a molecule is even (like CH4 where they are spread equally around the central atom) it will not be polar because the charge/electronegativity is equal on all sides

[rabiasumar2E]

A polar molecule occurs when the molecule is not symmetric, i.e. when one side has a positive charge and the other side has a negative charge.

[Bryce Ramirez 1J]

Drawing the Lewis Structure really helps because then you can visually see where the signs are coming from, if there are no charges then you would see it from the molecule being drawn and if there are charges they can easily be labeled on the Lewis Structure and understood why they are there.

[705198479]

im still not understanding the difference in determining if a molecule is polar or non polar

[Chetas Holagunda 3H]

Also, you can draw the vectors of the dipole moments to see if they cancel in each direction. Usually, if more than two elements are used in a molecule that isn't balanced on each side, it is polar.