polar molecules
Unequal electron distribution
Polar molecules have an uneven distribution of electrical charge, with slightly positive and negative ends.
This polarity arises when electrons are shared unequally between atoms, as in water, where oxygen pulls electrons away from hydrogen.
Polar molecules dissolve well in other polar substances and are attracted to electric fields.
Water is the most familiar polar molecule.
- hydrophilicTending to absorb water
- dipoleSeparated opposite charges
- waterClear essential liquid
- hydrogen bondingIntermolecular dipole attraction
- electronegativityAtomic electron attraction strength
covalent bond · electron cloud · solvent · dissolve · oil and water · attraction · charge · asymmetric · hydrogen bonds · sticky · surface tension · capillary · miscible · aqueous · ionic · electron · hydroxyl · ammonia
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