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Answers to Readers' Questions on Chemistry:
Polar Molecules
The following 9 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- Where is the "Play" button?
- What are semi-polar compounds?
- Where in a membrane are polar and nonpolar molecules?
- Is an HIV-protease molecule pola
- Why don't polar molecules mix with non-polar molecules?
- How to find if a molecule is polar by irts structure?
- How can we tell is a molecule is polar or non-polar?
- Is O3 molecule polar?
- How can we know if molecule is polar or non-polar?
Where is the "Play" button?
Question
October 4, 2009
Where is the "Play" button?
Kelvin - USA
18436
Answer
Thanks for letting me know it was missing. I updated all the pages with audio to make sure they have their play buttons. You might have to refresh the page (F5) if you don't see the play button.
I appreciate your feedback.
What are semi-polar compounds?
Question
October 4, 2009
what are semi polar compounds and how they are formed
pramanshu - India
18435
Answer
A semi-polar compound consists of a covalent chemical bond between two atoms that is produced when one atom shares a pair of electrons with another atom lacking such a pair. It is also called a coordinate bond.
Where in a membrane are polar and nonpolar molecules?
Question
September 26, 2009
I would like to know where in a membrane would you find a polar and nonpolar molecule.
Kylie - USA
18390
Answer
If you are talking about a cell membrane, protein molecules within the membrane can be polar or nonpolar. Also, they do not stay in one spot within the membrane. They move to where they are attracted to opposite polarized molecules.
Is an HIV-protease molecule pola
Question
September 15, 2009
Is an HIV protease molecule polar or non-polar? and how do you know?
crystal - USA
18319
Answer
It is very difficult to tell if a HIV-protease molecule is polar or non-polar, since it is such a complex molecule. I have never seen a classification of the molecule concerning its polarity.
Why don't polar molecules mix with non-polar molecules?
Question
April 11, 2009
Why do polar molecules not mix with non-polar molecules?
Polar molecules have (+) and (-) charges accumulated on either side of the molecule. So, a polar molecule should attract a non-polar molecule, just like a negatively charged atom attracts a neutral atom, forming a solution.
Shivam - India
17589
Answer
Since polar molecules have (+) and (-) charges accumulated on either side of the molecule, they have a strong and permanent dipole attraction to each other -- that is, positive to negative charges.
Since non-polar molecules do not have this dipole attract or have a very weak one, they are not readily able to penetrate between the polar molecules.
Even with oil and water, some of the non-polar oil molecules can mix in between the polar water molecule, but the number is insignificant.
How to find if a molecule is polar by irts structure?
Question
January 12, 2009
How to find molecule is polar or non-polar by chemical structure?
naveen - India
17088
Answer
A polar molecule is asymmetric, so that there are more electrical charges on one side than the other. The problem is that it is difficult to find the chemical structure.
How can we tell is a molecule is polar or non-polar?
Question
November 4, 2008
how do we konw whether a molecule is polar or no-polar?
can you pliz show a clear diagram or pixture explaining it in details?
osea - New Zealand
16732
Answer
The shape of the molecule determines whether it is polar or non-polar. There is no simple way of telling that, and the larger the molecule, the more difficult it is to tell.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a non-polar molecule, because it connects in a straight line: O-C-O. Thus the charge from the bonding would be the same on both ends.
Water (H2O) has a bent configuration so that the top and bottom would have different charges:
H H
O
(I hope that aligns properly)
Is O3 molecule polar?
Question
November 3, 2008
i am teacher chemistry. please answer in the question that is molecule O3 polar?
tank you
please send image polar molecules
mohmmad - Iran
16729
Answer
O3 is the ozone molecule. The molecule is slightly bend around the center oxygen atom, and thus is it a polar molecule.
Drawings of the ozone molecule can be seen at:
http://ozone.gi.alaska.edu/ozone.htm
How can we know if molecule is polar or non-polar?
Question
April 12, 2008
How can we know that if a molecule is polar or non-polar molecule?
Anh - VietNam
15718
Answer
Diatomic molecules (two of the same atom, such as H2) and most carbon compounds are non-polar.
Molecules with a single H (HCl), OH on the end (NaOH), O on the end (H2O), and N at one end (NH3) are usually polar molecules.
But the answer to determine whether a molecule is polar or non-polar is not easy. A good explanation can be seen at:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_determine_if_a_molecule_is_polar_or_non-polar
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