The Polar molecule reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Polar molecule

(H₂O). The electrons of water's hydrogen atoms are strongly attracted to the oxygen atom, and are actually closer to oyxgen's nucleus than to the hydrogen nuclei; thus, water has a relatively strong negative charge in the middle (red shade), and a positive charge at the ends (blue shade).]]

In chemistry, a polar molecule is a molecule in which the centers of positive and negative charge distribution do not converge. These molecules are characterized by a dipole moment which measures their polarity.

Polar compounds are highly soluble in other polar compounds, and virtually insoluble in nonpolar compounds.

See Also

See also: dipole, nonpolar, hydrophilic, hydrophobic.

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