Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video we'll look at the difference Between polar and nonpolar chemical bonds. Note that both are considered to be covalent bonds.
In covalent bonds, where two nonmetals bond by sharing electrons, we look at electronegativity—how strongly each atom attracts electrons—to determine if a bond is polar or nonpolar.
🔵 My video on polar and non-polar molecules: youtu.be/OHFGXfWB_r4
For example:
HCl is polar covalent. The electronegativity difference between hydrogen and chlorine is 0.96, meaning electrons are more attracted to chlorine, giving it a partial negative charge, while hydrogen has a partial positive charge. This unequal electron sharing creates a polar molecule.
H₂ is nonpolar covalent. Since both hydrogen atoms have the same electronegativity, there’s no difference in electron attraction, making the molecule nonpolar.
It’s also possible to have a molecule with polar bonds that is overall nonpolar. For instance, CF₄ has polar bonds between carbon and fluorine, but because the molecule is symmetrical, these polarities cancel out, resulting in a nonpolar molecule overall.
In this video we'll look at the difference Between polar and nonpolar chemical bonds. Note that both are considered to be covalent bonds.
In covalent bonds, where two nonmetals bond by sharing electrons, we look at electronegativity—how strongly each atom attracts electrons—to determine if a bond is polar or nonpolar.
🔵 My video on polar and non-polar molecules: youtu.be/OHFGXfWB_r4
For example:
HCl is polar covalent. The electronegativity difference between hydrogen and chlorine is 0.96, meaning electrons are more attracted to chlorine, giving it a partial negative charge, while hydrogen has a partial positive charge. This unequal electron sharing creates a polar molecule.
H₂ is nonpolar covalent. Since both hydrogen atoms have the same electronegativity, there’s no difference in electron attraction, making the molecule nonpolar.
It’s also possible to have a molecule with polar bonds that is overall nonpolar. For instance, CF₄ has polar bonds between carbon and fluorine, but because the molecule is symmetrical, these polarities cancel out, resulting in a nonpolar molecule overall.
