Polar vs Nonpolar

[Linh Vo 2J]

How can we determine if a compound is polar or nonpolar?

[Esther Ahn 4I]

Draw a Lewis Structure and examine the shape of the molecule. If the bonds are symmetrical and their polarities cancel each other out, then the molecule is non polar. If the bonds are asymmetrical and thus the more electronegative element is on one end and the electropositive element is on the other end, the molecule will be polar.

[Akhil Paladugu 3G]

A molecule is nonpolar if the dipole moments cancel out. Usually if the molecule is symmetric it is nonpolar as well.

[clamond3F]

You determine the polarity of the bonds in a molecule by taking the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms involved. If the difference is less than 0.4 then the bond is nonpolar. If the difference is greater than 0.4 the bond is considered polar. If the molecule has no polar bonds then it is nonpolar.

[hazelyang2E]

You can determine whether a compound/molecule is polar or nonpolar based on the polarity of the bonds between the atoms within the compound/molecule. A polar compound/molecule has polar bonds with dipoles that do NOT cancel. A nonpolar compound/molecule has nonpolar bonds or polar bonds with dipoles that do cancel out.

[Shivangi_2J]

you have to determine the shape of the molecule and look at whether or not the molecule has one side of the molecule that has a negative/positive dipole.

A polar bond between two atoms creates a dipole moment in which one atom has a slightly more positive/negative charge.
Depending on how these polar bonds are geometrically arranged in a molecule, a molecule can also be polar.
If there are two equal dipole moments opposite each other, they will cancel each other out. Then the molecule will be nonpolar. (in this way, a molecule can have polar bonds but be nonpolar)
If the dipole moments do not "cancel out" and there is a side of the molecule that is more negative/positive, the molecule is polar