Shape and Polarity? [ENDORSED]
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Shape and Polarity?
Can someone explain again how the shape of a molecule can determine whether it is polar or non polar?
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- Posts: 65
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Re: Shape and Polarity? [ENDORSED]
If a molecule has no dipole moments, it is nonpolar; if it has dipole moments but the dipole moments that cancel out, it is also nonpolar(for example, the two C-O bonds in CO2 are polar, but they are arrange exactly opposite to each other, so the dipole moments cancel out); if the molecule has dipole moments that do not cancel out, it is polar.
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Re: Shape and Polarity?
In a molecule, the atoms surrounding the central atom have some degree of electronegativity (the "hogging" of electrons when sharing). This creates a dipole moment. If the shape doesn't allow the polarity (pull of the electrons and difference in charge) to cancel each other out, it will be a polar molecule.
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Re: Shape and Polarity?
In addition to what has already been said in previous answers, the symmetry of a molecule's shape can indicate whether a molecule is polar or nonpolar. If atoms are arranged symmetrically around the central atom so that their dipole moments cancel each other out, then the molecule will be nonpolar. However, if the atoms are asymmetric, they will not cancel out and the molecule will be polar.
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