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MODULE IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE

OVERVIEW
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. We can also
relate the polarity of a molecule to its properties.

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, the student should be able to:
1. determine if a molecule is polar or nonpolar given its structure and
electronegativity; and
2. relate the polarity of a molecule to its properties.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of
electrons.
Nonpolar Molecules don’t have dipoles. They do not have positive or negative ends.
Polarity means having dipoles
Polar Molecules have dipoles. They have positive and negative ends.

DISCUSSION
The Polarity of a Molecule Based on Its Structure

Polarity means having dipoles, a positive and a negative end. Based on polarity,
molecules can be polar or nonpolar.
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.
1.7 > EN >0.4
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.
EN ≤ 0.4
EXAMPLE:
Molecule Electronegativity of Polarity of
each Element EN of bonds Molecules
(polar or nonpolar)
1. HCl H = 2.1 3.0 – 2.1 = 0.9 polar
Cl = 3.0
2. N2 N= 3.0 3.0 – 3.0 = 0 Nonpolar
3. H2O H= 2.1 3.5 – 2.1 = 1.4 polar
O= 3.5

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Generally, you can tell if a molecule is polar or nonpolar based on:
• its structure or shape
• 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.
4. Determine the sum of the dipole moment vectors. If the dipole moments cancel out each other,
the molecule is nonpolar; otherwise, it is polar.
Examples
Example 1
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the gas that you exhale.
1. Correct Lewis structure and geometry:

2. Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon. Therefore, the C—O bonds are polar.

3. Since CO2 has a linear symmetrical structure, the dipole moments of the C—O bonds cancel
out.
ANSWER: CO2 is a nonpolar molecule.

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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.

ANSWER: SO2 is a polar molecule.

Polar molecules have partially positive and negative ends. When two polar molecules are near
each other, the negative end of one molecule is attracted to the positive end of the other. The
separation of charges result in a strong force of attraction between the molecules.

On the other hand, nonpolar molecules do not have positive or negative ends. Between two
neighboring nonpolar molecules, the attraction is very minimal.

How do you relate the strength of attraction between the molecules to their observable
properties?

Solubility

Do you remember the rule of thumb “like dissolves like” in your previous Chemistry
lessons? This rule is applied on the concept of solubility of molecules. Polar solutes dissolve in
polar solvents. For example, sucrose is soluble in water because both of them are polar
molecules. On the other hand, nonpolar solutes dissolve in nonpolar solvents. For example,
hexane (C6H14) and benzene (C6H6) are nonpolar molecules because they only contain nonpolar
C-H bonds. The combination of these molecules form a solution.

Melting point
Melting point is the temperature at which a solid turns into liquid. Heat is needed to break
the forces of attraction between the molecules. Because the polar molecules have relatively
stronger forces of attraction compared to nonpolar ones, greater amount of heat must be applied
to break these forces. Therefore, in general, polar molecules have higher melting points than
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 nonpolar molecules. For example, hydrogen fluoride (HF) is polar while fluorine (F 2) is nonpolar.
HF has higher melting point than F2.
Boiling point
Boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid turns into gas. Similar to melting point,
greater amount of heat is needed to break the forces of attraction of polar molecules compared
to nonpolar ones. Generally, polar molecules have higher boiling points than nonpolar molecules.
For example, methanol (CH4O) is a polar molecule while methane (CH4) is nonpolar. The boiling
of CH4O is higher than that of CH4.
EVALUATION
1. Why is ethanol (C2H6O) soluble in water? What products in the market use the solution
of ethanol and water?
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2. 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. Draw the Lewis structure and
indicate the bond dipoles.

Directions: Use the electronegativity of the elements table to calculate the electronegativity
difference. Then, tell whether the polarity is polar or nonpolar.
Molecule Electronegativity of Polarity of Molecules
each Element EN of bonds (polar or nonpolar)
1. NH2
2. N2
3. HBr
4. OCl2
5. SF6
6. SO2
7. SiCl4
8. CCl
9. XeF4
10. C2H4

REFERENCES
• Physical Science by Karen S. Santiago (Phoenix Publication)
• Quipper School: E-learning System
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