Question

Question #75490

Answer 1

Yes, covalent bonds can be polar and non-polar.

Explanation:

Covalent bonds (sharing of electrons) occur between two or more non-metals.

Polar covalent means there is a difference between the electronegativities of the two or more atoms that are bonding with each other, in other words there is an unequal sharing of the electrons involved in the bond, example of this would be HF, which is Hydrogen Flouride:

Image from: http://chem173pcb8-9a2011-2012.wikispaces.com/Problem+Set+12

In the case of non-polar covalent bonds there is an equal sharing of electrons involved in the bond, or in other words no electronegativity difference. This usually occurs in homo-diatomic molecules such as `F_2`.

Here's an image to differentiate the two:

Image from: http://mycampus.nationalhighschool.com/doc/sc/Physical%20Science/iText/products/0-13-190327-6/ch5/ch5_s3_3.html

However if for instance you have `CH_4`, which Carbon-Hydrogen bond is polar, but you have 4 Carbon-Hydrogen bonds who's electronegativity difference all equal the same and pulling from all directions, the molecule as a whole will be non-polar. (Force vectors cancel each other out)

Image from: http://www.slideshare.net/pedagogics/2012-topic-42-polar-molecules

Hope I helped :)