Adding Reply Archived Topic: It will not be bumped to the top of the forum. Topic Help me with my chemistry Membername   Not a member? Sign Up Free (takes 20 seconds) Password   Forgotten your password? Post Font: Verdana Arial Black Georgia Comic Sans Impact   Size: Tiny Normal Big Huge   Color: Default Dark Red Red Orange Brown Green Olive Cyan Blue Dark Blue Indigo Black [ Check Spelling ] [ Post Preview ] [ LiveTags ] FAQ Keyword Search: Post Options Favorites Manager Notify me of new replies to this topic by email Notify me of new replies to this topic by private message Original Post Anonymous Posted at 10:51 am on Nov. 3, 2008 I dont know what a polar atom is, or a non-polar atom, and I know that if I dont understand this, I'm dead. I know all that stuff about dipole-dipole and weak vanderwalls etc. But I just don't understand the meaning of polar, and the meaning of non-polar (also polar-covalent). Don't start going on about dipole moments, and differences on in electronegativity, cause I know that. Just tell me what the hell is the meaning of polar, and what is non-polar.

Replies HatesYou Posted at 4:21 pm on Nov. 4, 2008 Put it this way.  Water is polar.  Anything that floats in water is also polar and has a charge. Non-polar has no charge.   Polar-covalent consists of both a negative and positive charge. That's really one of the key differences.