Question

is it true that a molecule with polar bonds will always be polar? is it true that a molecule with polar bonds will always be polar? that is false, molecular polarity is determined by molecular shape that is true, molecular polarity is determined by bond polarity only that is false, molecular polarity is determined by electron group geometry

Answer 1

The statement "A molecule with polar bonds will always be polar" is false.

While a molecule with polar bonds will often be polar, it is not always the case. The polarity of a molecule is determined by both the polarity of its bonds and its overall shape.

If a molecule has a symmetrical shape, the polarity of its bonds will cancel out and the molecule will be nonpolar.

A good example of this is carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 has two polar bonds, but its overall shape is linear.

This means that the polarity of the two bonds cancels out, and CO2 is a nonpolar molecule.

Another example is methane (CH4). Methane has four polar bonds, but its overall shape is tetrahedral.

This means that the polarity of the four bonds cancels out, and methane is also a nonpolar molecule.