When Dipoles Cancel
Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 26 of 49.
Identical polar bonds spread evenly around the central atom cancel: the molecule is non-polar.
CO₂, BF₃, BH₃, CH₄ and CCl₄ are non-polar. Different atoms around the centre, or lone pairs that bend the shape, break the balance (CHCl₃, H₂O).
Symmetric molecules cancel their dipoles; replace one atom and they no longer do
Challenge
Boron trifluoride, BF₃, has three strongly polar B-F bonds. What shape is it, and is the molecule polar?
Try it yourself
Shape viewerDescribe the molecule BF3
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Structure and Bonding
1Ionic Bonding
Why Atoms BondForming IonsThe Ionic BondIonic FormulasPolyatomic IonsIonic LatticesRecap - Salt Factory4Polarity
Electronegativity and BondsPolar and Non-polar BondsIonic or CovalentPolar MoleculesWhen Dipoles CancelRecap - Dipole Hunt2Covalent Bonds
Sharing ElectronsCounting Valence ElectronsDrawing Lewis StructuresDouble and Triple BondsLone PairsFormal ChargeLewis Structures of IonsRecap - Molecule Builder