Final answer:
Atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally, leading to partial charges. The more electronegative atom gains a partial negative charge, while the other has a partial positive charge. Larger electronegativity differences intensify these charges.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two atoms with different electronegativities form a covalent bond, the atom with higher electronegativity will attract shared electrons more and will have a partial negative charge. Conversely, the atom with lower electronegativity will have an equal and opposite partial positive charge. As the difference in electronegativity increases, the resulting magnitudes of the partial charges will also increase.