Key idea
Molecular polarity
A molecule can contain polar bonds yet have little or no overall dipole when the bond dipoles cancel by symmetry.
Molecular polarity
The key idea
Bond polarity and molecular geometry work together to determine whether a molecule has a net electric dipole.
Why it matters
A molecule can contain polar bonds yet have little or no overall dipole when the bond dipoles cancel by symmetry.
A picture to remember
Key idea
Molecular polarity
Guided example
Molecular polarity
A molecule can contain polar bonds yet have little or no overall dipole when the bond dipoles cancel by symmetry.
Put it into practice
Molecular polarity
Choose a concrete case linked to Molecular polarity. Write down the known information, what you are trying to find, and the units. Then state the rule, model or trend you will use. If a calculation is involved, keep the units visible at every line; if it is conceptual, state what changes and what remains fixed.
Check your answer
A strong answer contains four things: the starting situation, the variable that changes, the direction or numerical result, and one check. The check can be a unit, an order of magnitude, a limiting case or a comparison with a familiar example.