Nonpolar
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
In chemistry, a nonpolar compound is one that does not have concentrations of positive or negative electric charge. Nonpolar compounds, such as oil, are not soluble in water because of its (the water's) polarity. Some non-polar compounds have polar bonds, which is cancelled out by the way the atoms are arranged. E.g. linear and tetrahedral, like that of ammonium nitrate, shapes are most likely to result in a dipole cancel.
Many hydrocarbons, such as the continuous chain alkanes, are nonpolar due to their symmetrical polarity. All diatomic molecules are nonpolar. No ionic compounds (with a few exceptions) and no polar molecules can dissolve in any nonpolar compounds.
- See also: hydrophobic, polar molecule.
