Are All Charged Molecules Polar and Can Polar Molecules Be Uncharged?

[christian0710]

Hi,
Is it correctly understood that all charged molecules are polar (if they have a charge at some point, they must also have a unequal distribution of positivity and negativity)

but polar molecules can be charged or uncharged ( they have Δelectronegativity)

 

[DrClaude]

You have to take into account symmetry. I'm pretty sure that H₂⁺ is non-polar!

 

[christian0710]

Ahh yes that makes sense! thank you :)
So in the case of H2(+) I could imagine there are (if one can say) two resonance form, where 50% of the time the electron is most at Hydrogen A and the other 50% most at hydrogen B.

 

[DrClaude]

In a simple classical picture, yes. Quantum mechanically, you just have to see the electron as being in an orbital that stretches symetrically over the two hydrogen nuclei.

 

[LudusRex]

Hi there,

That is a correct understanding. Charged molecules, also known as ions, have a net positive or negative charge due to the gain or loss of electrons. This results in an unequal distribution of positive and negative charges within the molecule, making it polar. However, polar molecules can also exist without a net charge, as you mentioned, due to differences in electronegativity between atoms within the molecule. This unequal sharing of electrons creates a polarity within the molecule, but it does not necessarily result in a net charge. So while all charged molecules are polar, not all polar molecules are necessarily charged. I hope this helps clarify the difference between charged and polar species.