Colourful Solutions > The covalent model > Polar molecules

Vectors are quantities that have both magnitude and direction. They can add up, or cancel out, depending on orientation. Dipoles are vector quantities.

Syllabus reference S2.2.6

Structure 2.2.6 - Molecular polarity depends on both bond polarity and molecular geometry.

  • Deduce the net dipole moment of a molecule or ion by considering bond polarity and molecular geometry.

Guidance

  • Examples should include species in which bond dipoles do and do not cancel each other.

Tools and links

  • AHL Structure 3.2 - What features of a molecule make it “infrared (IR) active”?

Resolution of dipoles

Dipoles are similar to forces in that they can be resolved, added and cancelled out. If the dipoles within a molecule do not cancel out, then the molecule itself is polar, i.e. there is a region of positive charge within the molecule and another region of negative charge.

The carbon = oxygen bond is polarised due to the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen (2.5 and 3.5 respectively).

There is a horizontal dipole on the left of the molecule, but there is also another horizontal dipole with the same magnitude, but the opposite direction on the other side of the molecule.

Both of these dipoles cancel out, leaving a molecule that is non-polar.




water

The polarity of water

Water is a polar molecule in which the dipoles do not cancel out. This is because of the shape of the water molecule.

Although the O-H bonds are both equally polar they are not exactly opposite one another and cannot cancel out. In fact they cancel out in the horizontal plane (as drawn), but not in the vertical.

The dipoles in the water molecule can be resolved into horizontal and vertical components (green bars).

The horizontal components are equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction and cancel out.

The verticle dipoles are equal in magnitude and act in the same direction and so they add up. The molecule is polar overall, with a vertical dipole, negative at the top (near the oxygen) and positive at the bottom (between the two hydrogens).


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Polarity of molecules

The polarity of a molecule can be determined by firstly considering the relative electronegativities of the component atoms to find polarised bonds (dipoles), then inspecting the molecule to see if the individual dipoles cancel out. It is important to remember that the symmetry of a molecule is important in this respect.


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Consequences of polarity

Polar molecules are 'sticky' in that they are more attracted to one another. They behave as if they are tiny magnets, although the force between them is electrostatic, not magnetic.

The more polar they are the greater the degree of intermolecular force. This is covered in greater detail in subsequent sections.

The polarity of liquids can be easily demonstrated using a stream of liquid from a burette and approaching it with a charged electrostatic rod. The stream of liquid bends towards the rod if it is polar.


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