When does a polar bond result?

Question

When there is an unequal sharing of electrons in an ionic bond
When there is an unequal sharing of electrons in a covalent bond

Answer 1

A polar bond results when there is an unequal sharing of electrons in a covalent bond. In a covalent bond, two atoms share electrons, and if the atoms involved have different electronegativities, the electrons will be shared unequally. This creates a dipole moment, where one end of the bond becomes slightly negative and the other slightly positive, resulting in a polar bond.

In contrast, ionic bonds involve the complete transfer of electrons from one atom to another, leading to the formation of charged ions, rather than the sharing of electrons. Therefore, the concept of polarity specifically applies to covalent bonds.