VSEPR in equal angles

[Ryan Troutman 4L]

If you have atoms that are linear, trigonal planar, octahedral, tetrahedral (basically all the bond angles are the same), are they all non-polar molecules since they have equal angles? I was doing some practice problems and was confused by this concept.

[Yiting_Gong_4L]

yes

[timschaeffer Dis 1J]

This is only 100% true when all of the atoms attached to the central atom are of the same element. If the atoms are all different from one another, then the different dipole moments will likely result in a net dipole moment that makes the molecule polar, even if the geometric shape is symmetrical.

[Cameron_Greenberg_3C]

If there are no lone pairs present, then the atoms will be symmetrically arranged around the center atom. If they are all the same element, then yes, the molecule will be non-polar. But if there is a large electronegativity difference, then the molecule could be polar.

[Minsub Lee 3E]

Yes, like what most people said, the molecule is nonpolar unless the bonded atoms are not uniform. An example of this is CH4 and CClH3. Although both molecules have a tetrahedral molecular shape, CClH3 is polar because the partial charge given by the electronegativity difference of the chlorine atom that is bonded.