Polar covalent bonds

Definition

Polar covalent bonds are a type of chemical bond where two atoms share a pair of electrons, but the electrons are not shared equally due to differences in electronegativity between the atoms. This unequal sharing creates a partial positive charge on one atom and a partial negative charge on the other.

Related terms

Electronegativity:

A measure of how strongly an atom can attract a pair of bonded electrons towards itself.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond: A type of chemical bond where two atoms share a pair of electrons equally due to having similar or identical electronegativity.

Dipole Moment:

A measure of the separation of positive and negative electrical charges within a molecule, indicating the polarity of a chemical bond or molecule