polar molecule A molecule in which, though it does not carry a net electric charge, the electrons are unequally shared between the nuclei. In the water molecule, for example, the pull of the oxygen nucleus on the shared electrons is greater than the pull of the hydrogen nuclei. As a result, the oxygen end of the molecule is slightly negatively charged, and the hydrogen ends of the molecule are each slightly positively charged. The molecule is said to have a dipole moment and can attract other molecules with a dipole moment.

polar molecule A molecule in which, though it does not carry a net electric charge, the electrons are unequally shared between the nuclei. In the water molecule, for example, the pull of the oxygen nucleus on the shared electrons is greater than the pull of the hydrogen nuclei. As a result the oxygen end of the molecule is slightly negatively charged, and the hydrogen ends of the molecule are each slightly positively charged. The molecule is said to have a dipole moment and can attract other molecules with a dipole moment.

polar molecule A molecule in which, though it does not carry a net electric charge, the electrons are unequally shared between the nuclei. In the water molecule, for example, the pull of the oxygen nucleus on the shared electrons is greater than the pull of the hydrogen nuclei. As a result the oxygen end of the molecule is slightly negatively charged, and the hydrogen ends of the molecule are each slightly positively charged. The molecule is said to have a dipole moment and can attract other molecules with a dipole moment.

polar molecule See polarity.