Polar or nonpolar

[Steven Garcia 1H]

The molecule CH2Cl2 is said to be nonpolar, which I understand in the sense that the four atoms attached to the central atom are not the same. However, what if the Cls are located opposite of each other... wouldn't their dipole moments cancel ?

[dgerges 4H]

it's a tetrahedral shape so i don't think the angles would allow for the dipole moments to cancel out

[Sofia Ban]

It doesn't really matter where the Cl atoms are located. If the other two atoms surrounding the central atom are not chlorine, the molecule will be polar.

[Nicole Lee 4E]

The molecule is polar regardless of the location of the Cl atoms because the molecule is tetrahedral-shaped. The position of Cl would matter and affect polarity if the shape was square planar.

[Sarah Fatkin 4I]

Hi! This link might be helpful: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=37731&p=127151&hilit=ch2cl2&sid=21ba50c54756d8bcf2b3d98b852255fa#p127151