A molecule with partial charges that mixes with water is called

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

Answer: (B)

Polarity is the concept here. Water is a polar solvent, meaning it has partial positive and partial negative ends due to uneven electron distribution. A molecule that carries partial charges can interact with water and dissolve in it because those charges create attractions with the water molecules. This kind of molecule is called polar.

Nonpolar molecules have a balanced distribution of electrons and don’t mix well with water. Ionic refers to full charges that form separate ions in solution, which is a different type of interaction. Covalent describes how atoms share electrons, and while some covalent molecules can be polar, the clue here is the presence of partial charges, which defines polarity.