Homonym: polarity (Contrast)
Polarity refers to the distribution of electrical charge within a molecule, leading to regions of partial positive and negative charges. This occurs when atoms in a molecule have different electronegativities, causing an uneven sharing of electrons. For example, in a water molecule H2O, the oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, resulting in a polar molecule.
Polarity plays a crucial role in various chemical and physical processes. It affects how substances interact, dissolve, and react with one another. For instance, polar solvents like water can dissolve ionic compounds, while nonpolar solvents like oil do not mix well with polar substances.