Final answer:
A molecule can be polar or nonpolar depending on the nature of the bonds and the shape of the molecule. If the molecular geometry is such that the dipole moments of each polar bond cancel each other, then the molecule is nonpolar.
Step-by-step explanation:
A molecule can be polar or nonpolar depending on the nature of the bonds and the shape of the molecule. If the molecular geometry is such that the dipole moments of each polar bond cancel each other, then the molecule is nonpolar. For example, symmetric molecules like CO2, BF3, and CCl4 are nonpolar, despite each bond in them being polar. On the other hand, if a molecule has polar bonds but is not symmetric, the polarities do not cancel out, making the molecule polar.