Polar and Non-polar Bonds

Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 23 of 49.

Same element (Cl-Cl), or a difference under 0.4 (C-H): a non-polar bond, shared about equally.

A difference of 0.4 or more: a polar covalent bond, δ− on the atom that pulls more. H-Cl: 3.16 − 2.20 = 0.96, polar.

Hydrogen chloride with a small positive charge on hydrogen and a small negative charge on chlorine, beside a chlorine molecule with no charges

Chlorine pulls the shared pair toward itself in HCl; two chlorine atoms pull equally

Challenge

Hydrogen chloride gas dissolves in water to make hydrochloric acid. Describe the H-Cl bond: what kind is it, and which atom is δ−?

Try it yourself

Bond typeDescribe the bond H–Cl

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Structure and Bonding

1Ionic Bonding

4Polarity

7Functional Groups

2Covalent Bonds

5Forces Between Molecules

8Practice Problems

3Shapes of Molecules

6Metals and Giant Structures