In chemistry, polarity refers to the separation of electric charge within a molecule or chemical compound, resulting in a net positive or negative charge on either end of the molecule. Molecules are classified as polar, nonpolar, or ionic based on their polarity and the types of chemical bonds they contain.
Polar molecules have a permanent dipole moment, meaning that they have a separation of positive and negative charges. This occurs when the electronegativity of the atoms in the molecule is different, causing the electrons to be unequally shared. Examples of polar molecules include water (H2O) and hydrogen chloride (HCl).
