A molecule with no partial charges and equal sharing of electrons is described as

• A. Polar
• B. Nonpolar
• C. Hydrophilic
• D. Ionic

Answer: (B)

Nonpolar describes a molecule in which electrons are shared evenly and there are no partial charges on any part of the molecule. This happens when the atoms involved have similar electronegativities, so the covalent bonds are essentially equal in sharing. In many cases, even if a molecule has several bonds that are nonpolar, its shape can cause any small dipoles to cancel out, giving zero overall dipole moment.

So when a molecule has no partial charges and equal sharing of electrons, it fits nonpolar. Polar would involve regions with partial positive and partial negative charges from unequal sharing. Ionic would involve transfer of electrons, creating full charges on atoms. Hydrophilic describes affinity for water (usually polar or ionic), not a description of electron sharing.