How do you know whether a molecule is polar or non-polar in chemistry?
There are several ways to identify them as being ploar or non-polar. You can draw the structure out and note if it is symmetrical or not (if it is symmetrical then it is non polar). Another way, is by looking at the difference between electronegativities. Your book should have a table listing these for the elements, and you simply subtract them. You then follow the rules such as: If the difference between the two electronnegativites is 0, than the molecule is non polar, above 1.9 is polar and inbetween is usually called polar covalent. If you would like to know more, or see an electronegativity table- this website explains polarity pretty well.
