Polar molecule (H2O). The electrons of water's hydrogen atoms are strongly attracted to the oxygen atom, and are actually closer to oyxgen's nucleus than to the hydrogen nuclei; thus, water has a relatively strong negative charge in the middle (red shade), and a positive charge at the ends (blue shade).]]
In chemistry, a polar molecule is a molecule in which the centers of positive and negative charge distribution do not converge. These molecules are characterized by a dipole moment which measures their polarity.
Polar compounds are highly soluble in other polar compounds, and virtually insoluble in nonpolar compounds.
See Also\nSee also: dipole, nonpolar, hydrophilic, hydrophobic. |
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