Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A polar substance is a type of chemical substance where electrons are not shared equally between atoms in a molecule. This unequal sharing results in regions with slight electrical charges.
Related terms
Dipole Moment: This term refers to the measure of polarity in a chemical species.
Hydrophilic: These are substances that can mix with or dissolve in water. Polar substances tend to be hydrophilic because they can form hydrogen bonds with water.
This term describes an atom's ability to attract shared electrons towards itself. The difference in electronegativity values determines whether a bond will be nonpolar or polar.