Polar molecule

Definition

A molecule with a permanent overall separation of positive and negative charge, arising when bond polarities do not cancel.

Water is the central example: its bent geometry leaves the hydrogen side slightly positive and the oxygen side slightly negative, a condition written into the molecule’s shape rather than a passing fluctuation. This stored electrical tension makes water grab onto charged species, dissolving minerals and surrounding dissolved ions. A molecule with a charged positive end and a charged negative end is what lets water act as a near-universal solvent.

Related concepts

Hydrogen bond · Dissolution · Water molecule structure

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry