Molecule polarity – electronegativity, bond dipoles and molecular dipoles
ChemistryChemical BondingAges 15–16
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Sign in to playThree screens to explore molecular polarity. Two Atoms: change the electronegativity χ of A and B to see how the partial charges δ+/δ−, the dipole arrow and the bond type based on Δχ change; switch on the electric field between two capacitor plates to watch a polar molecule rotate into alignment. Three Atoms: change the electronegativity of A, B (in the middle) and C and drag to change the A–B–C bond angle to see two bond dipoles add as vectors into a molecular dipole (cancelling when the molecule is linear and χ(A) = χ(C)). Real Molecules (3D): rotate ball-and-stick models of H₂, HF, H₂O, NH₃, CO₂, HCN, BF₃, CH₄ and CH₃F with Pauling electronegativities, an electrostatic potential or electron density surface, and dipole arrows. Adapted from the "Molecule Polarity" simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder (CC BY 4.0); rewritten.
Lesson: Covalent bonding
How to use
Parameters you can change
- Screen Two Atoms, Three Atoms, Real Molecules (3D)
- Electronegativity of atom A (Two Atoms) 1–4
- Electronegativity of atom B (Two Atoms) 1–4
- Electronegativity of atom A (Three Atoms) 1–4
- Electronegativity of central atom B (Three Atoms) 1–4
- Electronegativity of atom C (Three Atoms) 1–4
- A–B–C bond angle (Three Atoms) 60–180 °
- Electric field on (capacitor plates)
- Surface None, Electrostatic potential, Electron density
- Show partial charges (δ)
- Show bond dipoles
- Show molecular dipole (net)
- Real molecule H₂ (hydrogen), HF (hydrogen fluoride), H₂O (water), NH₃ (ammonia), CO₂ (carbon dioxide), HCN (hydrogen cyanide), BF₃ (boron trifluoride), CH₄ (methane), CH₃F (fluoromethane)
