Chemical polarity
Chemical Polarity
Chemical polarity (pronunciation: /ˈkɛmɪkəl poʊˈlærɪti/) is a term used in Chemistry to describe the distribution of electronic charge in a molecule.
Etymology
The term 'polarity' originates from the Latin word 'polaritas', which means 'having poles'. In the context of chemistry, it refers to the presence of poles in a molecule due to uneven distribution of electrons.
Definition
Chemical polarity occurs when atoms in a molecule form covalent bonds with different electronegativities, leading to an uneven distribution of charge. This results in the molecule having a positive end (pole) and a negative end (pole), hence the term 'polarity'.
Related Terms
- Dipole Moment: A measure of the polarity of a molecule. It is the product of the charge and the distance between the charges in a molecule.
- Nonpolar Molecule: A molecule in which electrons are shared equally between atoms, resulting in no charge separation and therefore no polarity.
- Polar Molecule: A molecule that has a net dipole moment due to the presence of polar bonds.
- Ionic Bond: A type of chemical bond that involves a transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in ions with opposite charges that attract each other. This is different from a polar covalent bond, which involves an unequal sharing of electrons.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Chemical polarity
- Wikipedia's article - Chemical polarity
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