Biology / Unit 1 Bio 0135 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Nonpolar Covalent Bonds
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The idea
A nonpolar covalent bond shares electrons evenly between two atoms because both pull on them with about equal strength.
In practice
Two atoms of the same element, as in the hydrogen molecule, pull on their shared electrons equally, leaving neither atom with a partial charge.
Where people slip
Even similar but non-identical atoms, such as carbon and hydrogen, share closely enough to count as nonpolar in practice.
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