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Bond Polarity from Electronegativity Difference

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State

A bond's polarity grows as the electronegativity difference between its two bonded atoms grows, from nonpolar through polar to ionic.

Show

The C–H bond, a small electronegativity difference, is treated as nonpolar; the H–F bond, a large difference, is strongly polar.

Watch for

Polarity is a continuum set by electronegativity difference, not a fixed line separating "covalent" bonds from "ionic" ones.