Molecular Structure and Polarity
The way atoms bond creates molecules with specific shapes and properties that affect how they interact with other substances. These interactions are crucial for everything from cooking to biology!
Polar molecules have electrons that are shared unequally, creating regions with slight positive and negative charges. Water is a perfect example—the oxygen end has a slight negative charge while the hydrogen ends are slightly positive. This explains why water dissolves many substances!
Non-polar molecules share electrons equally between atoms, so they have no charged regions. Methane (CH₄) is a classic example where carbon shares electrons equally with four hydrogen atoms.
Complex molecules like proteins have elaborate structures held together by various bonds and interactions. These include hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and disulfide bridges that give proteins their specific shapes and functions.
⚡ Quick Chemistry: When atoms bond, it happens instantaneously! An atom that gains electrons becomes a negatively charged anion, while an atom that loses electrons becomes a positively charged cation.