Chapter 3.

The Structure and

Properties of Matter
Lesson 1. The Polarity of a
Molecule Based on Its Structure
Objective
At the end of the lesson, you
should be able to determine if
a molecule is polar or nonpolar
given its structure.
In your previous
Chemistry lessons, you
have learned that a
molecule has a certain
shape or geometry.
Polar molecules have
dipoles. Their dipole
moments do not add up
to zero (or do not cancel
out). Water and carbon
monoxide are examples
of polar molecules.
There are millions of
different molecules, and
there are many ways to
sort them. One way to
classify them is based on
polarity.
 Polarity means having
dipoles, a positive and a
negative end. Based on
polarity, molecules can be
polar or nonpolar.
Nonpolar molecules do not
have positive or negative
ends. Their dipole moments
add up to zero (they cancel
out). Carbon tetrachloride
and methane are examples
of nonpolar molecules.
Generally, you can tell if a
molecule is polar or
nonpolar based on:
1. its structure or shape
2. the polarity of the
individual bonds present in
the molecule
Steps in Determining the
Polarity of a Molecule
1. Draw the correct Lewis
structure and molecular
geometry of the molecule.
2. Identify the polarity of
each bond present in the
molecule. A bond is polar
when the atoms in the
bond have different
electronegativities.
Recall
that electronegativity is the
measure of the tendency of
an atom to attract a
bonding pair of electrons.
(You may use the periodic
table to determine the
electronegativity values of
the atoms.)
3. Draw the dipole
moment vectors for polar
bonds. The dipole moment
vector points to the more
electronegative atom.
Determine the sum of the
dipole moment vectors. If
the dipole moments cancel
out each other, the
molecule is nonpolar;
otherwise, it is polar.
Example 1
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is
the gas that you exhale.
Correct Lewis structure
and geometry:
Since CO2 has a linear
symmetrical structure,
the dipole moments of
the C—O bonds cancel
out.
CO2 is a nonpolar
molecule.
Example 2
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a
colorless toxic gas formed
by burning sulfur in air.
1. Correct Lewis structure
and geometry:
2. Oxygen is more
electronegative than
sulfur. Therefore, the S—O
bonds are polar.
3. Since the molecule is
bent-shaped, the dipole
moments do not cancel
out.
Explore!
Consider the examples
below to help you
understand the concept of
polarity.
Below are the images of a
magnet bar, a block of
wood, and a battery.
 Explore!
 Consider the examples below to help you understand
the concept of polarity.
 Below are the images of a magnet bar, a block of wood,
and a battery.

Which of the three show(s) polarity?

Activity
Ammonia (NH3) is a
colorless gas. A solution of
ammonia in water is used
as a cleaning agent.
Determine if ammonia is
polar or nonpolar.