# List of polar and nonpolar molecules

Polar and nonpolar molecules with a specific reason for each classification, the molecular geometry, and experimental dipole moments where available.

Rows136

Last updatedOctober 5, 2026

Version2026.10.05

License[CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

FormatsCSV, JSON

SourcesPubChem, NIST CCCBDB, RDKit, OpenStax Chemistry

Citation

[CSV](https://proteiniq.io/datasets/polar-and-nonpolar-molecules/download?format=csv)[JSON](https://proteiniq.io/datasets/polar-and-nonpolar-molecules/download?format=json)

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Water | H2O | 18.02 | Polar molecule | Bent shape, so the two polar O-H bond dipoles add instead of cancelling | Bent | 1.86 | `O` | [962](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/962) |  |
| Ammonia | NH3 | 17.03 | Polar molecule | Lone pair gives a trigonal pyramidal shape; the three N-H dipoles add | Trigonal pyramidal | 1.48 | `N` | [222](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/222) |  |
| Phosphine | PH3 | 34.00 | Polar molecule | Trigonal pyramidal like ammonia, but P-H bonds are barely polar, so the dipole is small | Trigonal pyramidal | 0.58 | `P` | [24404](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24404) |  |
| Nitrogen trifluoride | NF3 | 71.00 | Polar molecule | Trigonal pyramidal; the lone pair partly offsets the N-F bond dipoles, leaving a small net dipole | Trigonal pyramidal | 0.23 | `N(F)(F)F` | [24553](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24553) |  |
| Phosphorus trichloride | PCl3 | 137.32 | Polar molecule | Trigonal pyramidal, so the polar P-Cl bonds do not cancel | Trigonal pyramidal | 0.56 | `P(Cl)(Cl)Cl` | [24387](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24387) |  |
| Hydrogen fluoride | HF | 20.01 | Polar molecule | Heteronuclear diatomic with a large H-F electronegativity difference | Linear | 1.83 | `F` | [14917](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/14917) |  |
| Hydrogen chloride | HCl | 36.46 | Polar molecule | Heteronuclear diatomic; chlorine pulls electron density from hydrogen | Linear | 1.09 | `Cl` | [313](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/313) |  |
| Hydrogen bromide | HBr | 80.91 | Polar molecule | Heteronuclear diatomic; smaller electronegativity difference than HCl | Linear | 0.83 | `Br` | [260](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/260) |  |
| Hydrogen iodide | HI | 127.91 | Polar molecule | Heteronuclear diatomic with only a small H-I electronegativity difference | Linear | 0.45 | `I` | [24841](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24841) |  |
| Carbon monoxide | CO | 28.01 | Polar molecule | Heteronuclear diatomic; bond polarity and the carbon lone pair nearly cancel, leaving a very small dipole | Linear | 0.11 | `[C-]#[O+]` | [281](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/281) |  |
| Nitric oxide | NO | 30.01 | Polar molecule | Heteronuclear diatomic radical with a small N-O dipole | Linear | 0.16 | `[N]=O` | [145068](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/145068) |  |
| Hydrogen sulfide | H2S | 34.08 | Polar molecule | Bent like water, but S-H bonds are much less polar than O-H | Bent | 0.98 | `S` | [402](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/402) |  |
| Sulfur dioxide | SO2 | 64.06 | Polar molecule | Bent shape from the sulfur lone pair, so the S=O dipoles do not cancel | Bent | 1.63 | `O=S=O` | [1119](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1119) |  |
| Ozone | O3 | 48.00 | Polar molecule | Bent, and the central oxygen differs from the two end oxygens, so even this one-element molecule is polar | Bent | 0.53 | `[O-][O+]=O` | [24823](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24823) |  |
| Nitrogen dioxide | NO2 | 46.01 | Polar molecule | Bent radical, so the N-O bond dipoles do not cancel | Bent | 0.32 | `N(=O)[O]` | [3032552](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3032552) |  |
| Nitrous oxide | N2O | 44.01 | Polar molecule | Linear but unsymmetrical (N-N-O), so the two ends differ and a small dipole remains | Linear | 0.16 | `[N-]=[N+]=O` | [948](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/948) |  |
| Hydrogen cyanide | HCN | 27.03 | Polar molecule | Linear but unsymmetrical; the C≡N bond is strongly polarized toward nitrogen | Linear | 2.98 | `C#N` | [768](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/768) |  |
| Hydrogen peroxide | H2O2 | 34.01 | Polar molecule | Twisted, nonplanar H-O-O-H shape keeps the O-H dipoles from cancelling | Nonplanar (open book) | - | `OO` | [784](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/784) |  |
| Sulfuric acid | H2SO4 | 98.07 | Polar molecule | Polar S=O and O-H bonds in an unsymmetrical arrangement around sulfur | Tetrahedral (at S) | 2.73 | `OS(=O)(=O)O` | [1118](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1118) |  |
| Nitric acid | HNO3 | 63.01 | Polar molecule | Planar molecule with polar N-O and O-H bonds that do not cancel | Trigonal planar (at N) | 2.17 | `[N+](=O)(O)[O-]` | [944](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/944) |  |
| Phosphoric acid | H3PO4 | 97.99 | Polar molecule | Polar P=O bond and three O-H groups; strong hydrogen bonding | Tetrahedral (at P) | - | `OP(=O)(O)O` | [1004](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1004) |  |
| Formaldehyde | CH2O | 30.03 | Polar molecule | Polar C=O bond with nothing opposite to cancel it | Trigonal planar | 2.33 | `C=O` | [712](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/712) |  |
| Acetaldehyde | C2H4O | 44.05 | Polar molecule | Polar C=O carbonyl group | Trigonal planar (at carbonyl C) | 2.75 | `CC=O` | [177](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/177) |  |
| Acetone | C3H6O | 58.08 | Polar molecule | Polar C=O carbonyl group; the two methyl groups cannot cancel it | Trigonal planar (at carbonyl C) | 2.88 | `CC(=O)C` | [180](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/180) |  |
| Butanone | C4H8O | 72.11 | Polar molecule | Polar C=O carbonyl group | Trigonal planar (at carbonyl C) | 2.78 | `CCC(=O)C` | [6569](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6569) |  |
| Cyclohexanone | C6H10O | 98.15 | Polar molecule | Polar C=O carbonyl group on a ring | Trigonal planar (at carbonyl C) | 3.02 | `C1CCC(=O)CC1` | [7967](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7967) |  |
| Methanol | CH4O | 32.04 | Polar molecule | Polar O-H group on a bent C-O-H; hydrogen bonds strongly | Tetrahedral (at C), bent (at O) | 1.67 | `CO` | [887](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/887) |  |
| Ethanol | C2H6O | 46.07 | Polar molecule | Polar O-H group; hydrogen bonds and mixes with water | Tetrahedral (at C), bent (at O) | 1.68 | `CCO` | [702](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/702) |  |
| 1-Propanol | C3H8O | 60.10 | Polar molecule | Polar O-H group outweighs the short hydrocarbon chain | Tetrahedral (at C), bent (at O) | - | `CCCO` | [1031](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1031) |  |
| Isopropanol | C3H8O | 60.10 | Polar molecule | Polar O-H group; hydrogen bonds with water | Tetrahedral (at C), bent (at O) | 1.58 | `CC(C)O` | [3776](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3776) |  |
| 1-Butanol | C4H10O | 74.12 | Polar molecule | Polar O-H group, though the four-carbon chain lowers water solubility | Tetrahedral (at C), bent (at O) | 1.66 | `CCCCO` | [263](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/263) |  |
| Ethylene glycol | C2H6O2 | 62.07 | Polar molecule | Two O-H groups give strong hydrogen bonding | - | - | `C(CO)O` | [174](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/174) |  |
| Glycerol | C3H8O3 | 92.09 | Polar molecule | Three O-H groups give strong hydrogen bonding | - | - | `C(C(CO)O)O` | [753](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/753) |  |
| Formic acid | CH2O2 | 46.03 | Polar molecule | Carboxylic acid group with polar C=O and O-H bonds | Trigonal planar (at C) | 1.41 | `C(=O)O` | [284](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/284) |  |
| Acetic acid | C2H4O2 | 60.05 | Polar molecule | Carboxylic acid group with polar C=O and O-H bonds | Trigonal planar (at carboxyl C) | 1.70 | `CC(=O)O` | [176](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/176) |  |
| Propionic acid | C3H6O2 | 74.08 | Polar molecule | Carboxylic acid group with polar C=O and O-H bonds | Trigonal planar (at carboxyl C) | 1.75 | `CCC(=O)O` | [1032](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1032) |  |
| Formamide | CH3NO | 45.04 | Polar molecule | Amide group with a strongly polar C=O and N-H bonds | Planar | 3.73 | `C(=O)N` | [713](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/713) |  |
| Acetamide | C2H5NO | 59.07 | Polar molecule | Amide group with a strongly polar C=O and N-H bonds | Trigonal planar (at carbonyl C) | 3.76 | `CC(=O)N` | [178](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/178) |  |
| Dimethylformamide | C3H7NO | 73.10 | Polar molecule | Amide group; strongly polar aprotic solvent | Trigonal planar (at carbonyl C) | 3.82 | `CN(C)C=O` | [6228](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6228) |  |
| Acetonitrile | C2H3N | 41.05 | Polar molecule | Strongly polarized nitrile group on a linear C-C≡N axis | Linear (C-C≡N) | 3.92 | `CC#N` | [6342](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6342) |  |
| Nitromethane | CH3NO2 | 61.04 | Polar molecule | Nitro group with polar N-O bonds | Trigonal planar (at N) | 3.46 | `C[N+](=O)[O-]` | [6375](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6375) |  |
| Dimethyl sulfoxide | C2H6OS | 78.13 | Polar molecule | Strongly polar S=O bond on a pyramidal sulfur; polar aprotic solvent | Trigonal pyramidal (at S) | 3.96 | `CS(=O)C` | [679](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/679) |  |
| Methylamine | CH5N | 31.06 | Polar molecule | Polar N-H bonds and a nitrogen lone pair on a pyramidal nitrogen | Trigonal pyramidal (at N) | 1.31 | `CN` | [6329](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6329) |  |
| Ethylamine | C2H7N | 45.09 | Polar molecule | Polar N-H bonds and a nitrogen lone pair | Trigonal pyramidal (at N) | 1.22 | `CCN` | [6341](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6341) |  |
| Dimethylamine | C2H7N | 45.09 | Polar molecule | Pyramidal nitrogen with a lone pair and one N-H bond | Trigonal pyramidal (at N) | 1.03 | `CNC` | [674](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/674) |  |
| Trimethylamine | C3H9N | 59.11 | Polar molecule | Pyramidal nitrogen lone pair but no N-H bonds, so the dipole is small | Trigonal pyramidal (at N) | 0.61 | `CN(C)C` | [1146](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1146) |  |
| Dimethyl ether | C2H6O | 46.07 | Polar molecule | Bent C-O-C, so the two C-O dipoles add | Bent (at O) | 1.30 | `COC` | [8254](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8254) |  |
| Diethyl ether | C4H10O | 74.12 | Polar molecule | Bent C-O-C ether linkage; weakly polar | Bent (at O) | 1.15 | `CCOCC` | [3283](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3283) |  |
| Tetrahydrofuran | C4H8O | 72.11 | Polar molecule | Ring ether; the bent C-O-C dipole is not cancelled | Bent (at O) | 1.63 | `C1CCOC1` | [8028](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8028) |  |
| Chloromethane | CH3Cl | 50.49 | Polar molecule | One polar C-Cl bond on a tetrahedral carbon is not cancelled | Tetrahedral | 1.87 | `CCl` | [6327](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6327) |  |
| Dichloromethane | CH2Cl2 | 84.93 | Polar molecule | Two C-Cl and two C-H bonds on a tetrahedral carbon do not cancel | Tetrahedral | 1.62 | `C(Cl)Cl` | [6344](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6344) |  |
| Chloroform | CHCl3 | 119.37 | Polar molecule | Three C-Cl bonds and one C-H bond on a tetrahedral carbon do not cancel | Tetrahedral | 1.04 | `C(Cl)(Cl)Cl` | [6212](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6212) |  |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | C2H2Cl2 | 96.94 | Polar molecule | Both C-Cl bonds sit on the same side of the double bond, so their dipoles add | Planar | 1.90 | `C(=C\Cl)\Cl` | [643833](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/643833) |  |
| Chlorobenzene | C6H5Cl | 112.56 | Polar molecule | One polar C-Cl bond on the benzene ring | Planar | 1.78 | `C1=CC=C(C=C1)Cl` | [7964](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7964) |  |
| Nitrobenzene | C6H5NO2 | 123.11 | Polar molecule | Strongly polar nitro group on the benzene ring | Planar | 4.22 | `C1=CC=C(C=C1)[N+](=O)[O-]` | [7416](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7416) |  |
| Benzonitrile | C7H5N | 103.12 | Polar molecule | Strongly polar nitrile group on the benzene ring | Planar | 4.51 | `C1=CC=C(C=C1)C#N` | [7505](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7505) |  |
| Benzaldehyde | C7H6O | 106.12 | Polar molecule | Polar C=O aldehyde group on the benzene ring | Planar | 3.14 | `C1=CC=C(C=C1)C=O` | [240](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/240) |  |
| Acetophenone | C8H8O | 120.15 | Polar molecule | Polar C=O ketone group on the benzene ring | - | 3.02 | `CC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1` | [7410](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7410) |  |
| Phenol | C6H6O | 94.11 | Polar molecule | Polar O-H group on the benzene ring | Planar | 1.22 | `C1=CC=C(C=C1)O` | [996](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/996) |  |
| Aniline | C6H7N | 93.13 | Polar molecule | Polar N-H bonds and a nitrogen lone pair on the benzene ring | - | 1.53 | `C1=CC=C(C=C1)N` | [6115](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6115) |  |
| Anisole | C7H8O | 108.14 | Polar molecule | Bent C-O-C ether linkage on the benzene ring | - | 1.26 | `COC1=CC=CC=C1` | [7519](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7519) |  |
| Pyridine | C5H5N | 79.10 | Polar molecule | Ring nitrogen with a lone pair makes the ring unsymmetrical | Planar | 2.19 | `C1=CC=NC=C1` | [1049](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1049) |  |
| Pyrrole | C4H5N | 67.09 | Polar molecule | Ring N-H makes the aromatic ring unsymmetrical | Planar | 1.84 | `C1=CNC=C1` | [8027](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8027) |  |
| Furan | C4H4O | 68.07 | Polar molecule | Ring oxygen makes the aromatic ring unsymmetrical; weakly polar | Planar | 0.66 | `C1=COC=C1` | [8029](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8029) |  |
| Thiophene | C4H4S | 84.14 | Polar molecule | Ring sulfur makes the aromatic ring unsymmetrical; weakly polar | Planar | 0.55 | `C1=CSC=C1` | [8030](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8030) |  |
| Methyl acetate | C3H6O2 | 74.08 | Polar molecule | Ester group with polar C=O and C-O bonds | - | 1.72 | `CC(=O)OC` | [6584](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6584) |  |
| Ethyl acetate | C4H8O2 | 88.11 | Polar molecule | Ester group with polar C=O and C-O bonds | - | 1.78 | `CCOC(=O)C` | [8857](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8857) |  |
| Methyl formate | C2H4O2 | 60.05 | Polar molecule | Ester group with polar C=O and C-O bonds | - | 1.77 | `COC=O` | [7865](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7865) |  |
| Morpholine | C4H9NO | 87.12 | Polar molecule | Ring with an ether oxygen and an N-H group whose dipoles do not cancel | - | - | `C1COCCN1` | [8083](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8083) |  |
| Piperidine | C5H11N | 85.15 | Polar molecule | Ring N-H and nitrogen lone pair; polar amine | - | - | `C1CCNCC1` | [8082](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8082) |  |
| Sulfolane | C4H8O2S | 120.17 | Polar molecule | Strongly polar sulfonyl (SO2) group on a ring | - | - | `C1CCS(=O)(=O)C1` | [31347](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/31347) |  |
| Urea | CH4N2O | 60.06 | Polar molecule | Polar C=O and two NH2 groups; very soluble in water | Trigonal planar (at C) | 3.83 | `C(=O)(N)N` | [1176](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1176) |  |
| D-Glucose | C6H12O6 | 180.16 | Polar molecule | Five O-H groups and a ring oxygen; hydrogen bonds extensively | - | - | `C([C@@H]1[C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](C(O1)O)O)O)O)O` | [5793](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5793) |  |
| D-Fructose | C6H12O6 | 180.16 | Polar molecule | Many O-H groups; hydrogen bonds extensively | - | - | `C1[C@H]([C@H]([C@@H](C(O1)(CO)O)O)O)O` | [2723872](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/2723872) |  |
| Sucrose | C12H22O11 | 342.30 | Polar molecule | Eight O-H groups; dissolves readily in water | - | - | `C([C@@H]1[C@H]([C@@H]([C@H]([C@H](O1)O[C@]2([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O2)CO)O)O)CO)O)O)O)O` | [5988](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5988) |  |
| Glycine | C2H5NO2 | 75.07 | Polar molecule | Exists as a zwitterion (NH3+ and COO-) in water and in the solid | - | - | `C(C(=O)O)N` | [750](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/750) |  |
| L-Alanine | C3H7NO2 | 89.09 | Polar molecule | Zwitterionic amino acid with charged amino and carboxylate groups | - | - | `C[C@@H](C(=O)O)N` | [5950](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5950) |  |
| L-Serine | C3H7NO3 | 105.09 | Polar molecule | Zwitterionic amino acid with an extra side-chain O-H group | - | - | `C([C@@H](C(=O)O)N)O` | [5951](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5951) |  |
| Gamma-aminobutyric acid | C4H9NO2 | 103.12 | Polar molecule | Zwitterionic amino acid with charged amino and carboxylate groups | - | - | `C(CC(=O)O)CN` | [119](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/119) |  |
| Lactic acid | C3H6O3 | 90.08 | Polar molecule | Carboxylic acid and O-H groups | - | - | `CC(C(=O)O)O` | [612](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/612) |  |
| Citric acid | C6H8O7 | 192.12 | Polar molecule | Three carboxylic acid groups and one O-H group | - | - | `C(C(=O)O)C(CC(=O)O)(C(=O)O)O` | [311](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/311) |  |
| Benzoic acid | C7H6O2 | 122.12 | Polar molecule | Polar carboxylic acid group on a benzene ring | - | - | `C1=CC=C(C=C1)C(=O)O` | [243](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/243) |  |
| Salicylic acid | C7H6O3 | 138.12 | Polar molecule | Carboxylic acid and phenol O-H groups on a benzene ring | - | - | `C1=CC=C(C(=C1)C(=O)O)O` | [338](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/338) |  |
| Vanillin | C8H8O3 | 152.15 | Polar molecule | Aldehyde, phenol O-H, and ether groups on a benzene ring | - | - | `COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C=O)O` | [1183](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1183) |  |
| Menthol | C10H20O | 156.27 | Polar molecule | Single O-H group makes it polar, but the large hydrocarbon ring limits water solubility | - | - | `CC1CCC(C(C1)O)C(C)C` | [1254](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1254) |  |
| Caffeine | C8H10N4O2 | 194.19 | Polar molecule | Two C=O groups and several ring nitrogens | - | - | `CN1C=NC2=C1C(=O)N(C(=O)N2C)C` | [2519](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/2519) |  |
| Dopamine | C8H11NO2 | 153.18 | Polar molecule | Catechol O-H groups and an amine group | - | - | `C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)O)O` | [681](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/681) |  |
| Aspirin | C9H8O4 | 180.16 | Polar molecule | Carboxylic acid and ester groups on a benzene ring | - | - | `CC(=O)OC1=CC=CC=C1C(=O)O` | [2244](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/2244) |  |
| Acetaminophen | C8H9NO2 | 151.17 | Polar molecule | Phenol O-H and amide groups on a benzene ring | - | - | `CC(=O)NC1=CC=C(C=C1)O` | [1983](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1983) |  |
| Hydrogen | H2 | 2.02 | Nonpolar molecule | Homonuclear diatomic, so the bond is not polar | Linear | 0.00 | `[HH]` | [783](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/783) |  |
| Nitrogen | N2 | 28.01 | Nonpolar molecule | Homonuclear diatomic, so the bond is not polar | Linear | 0.00 | `N#N` | [947](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/947) |  |
| Oxygen | O2 | 32.00 | Nonpolar molecule | Homonuclear diatomic, so the bond is not polar | Linear | 0.00 | `O=O` | [977](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/977) |  |
| Fluorine | F2 | 38.00 | Nonpolar molecule | Homonuclear diatomic, so the bond is not polar | Linear | 0.00 | `FF` | [24524](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24524) |  |
| Chlorine | Cl2 | 70.90 | Nonpolar molecule | Homonuclear diatomic, so the bond is not polar | Linear | 0.00 | `ClCl` | [24526](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24526) |  |
| Bromine | Br2 | 159.81 | Nonpolar molecule | Homonuclear diatomic, so the bond is not polar | Linear | 0.00 | `BrBr` | [24408](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24408) |  |
| Iodine | I2 | 253.80 | Nonpolar molecule | Homonuclear diatomic, so the bond is not polar | Linear | 0.00 | `II` | [807](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/807) |  |
| Carbon dioxide | CO2 | 44.01 | Nonpolar molecule | Two polar C=O bonds point in opposite directions in a linear molecule and cancel | Linear | 0.00 | `C(=O)=O` | [280](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/280) |  |
| Carbon disulfide | CS2 | 76.13 | Nonpolar molecule | Linear S=C=S, so the two bond dipoles cancel | Linear | 0.00 | `C(=S)=S` | [6348](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6348) |  |
| Boron trifluoride | BF3 | 67.80 | Nonpolar molecule | Three polar B-F bonds at 120 degrees in a plane cancel | Trigonal planar | 0.00 | `B(F)(F)F` | [6356](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6356) |  |
| Sulfur trioxide | SO3 | 80.06 | Nonpolar molecule | Three S=O bonds at 120 degrees in a plane cancel | Trigonal planar | 0.00 | `O=S(=O)=O` | [24682](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24682) |  |

Page 1 of 1

per page

## About this dataset

A polar molecule has an uneven distribution of electron density that produces a net molecular dipole. A nonpolar molecule has no lasting net dipole, either because its bonds are only weakly polar or because its bond dipoles cancel through symmetry.

Bond polarity alone is not enough to classify a whole molecule. Carbon dioxide has polar C=O bonds but is linear and symmetric, so their dipoles cancel. Water has polar O–H bonds and a bent geometry, so its dipoles reinforce one another.

## How to identify molecular polarity

First identify polar bonds from electronegativity differences, then determine the molecular geometry and ask whether the bond dipoles cancel. Lone pairs often change geometry: ammonia is trigonal pyramidal and polar, while boron trifluoride is trigonal planar and nonpolar despite its polar B–F bonds.

For larger organic molecules, functional groups and molecular shape both matter. Hydroxyl, carbonyl, amide, and charged groups usually increase polarity, while a large hydrocarbon region can dominate the behavior of an otherwise polar functional group.

## Reading the dipole moment column

The dipole column gives measured gas-phase dipole moments in debye (D) from the NIST Computational Chemistry Comparison and Benchmark Database. Water measures 1.86 D, ammonia 1.48 D, and hydrogen chloride 1.09 D, while symmetric molecules such as CO₂, BF₃, CCl₄, and SF₆ measure zero.

A few hydrocarbons have small but nonzero dipoles, such as 0.36 D for propene and 0.78 D for propyne. They are still classed as nonpolar because dispersion forces dominate how they behave, and the basis column says so. The cell is left blank where no single experimental value is available, for example for zwitterionic amino acids or molecules whose conformers have different dipoles.

## Polarity, solubility, and intermolecular forces

“Like dissolves like” is a useful first approximation: polar solvents tend to dissolve polar or ionic solutes, and nonpolar solvents tend to dissolve nonpolar solutes. It is not an absolute rule because hydrogen bonding, ionization, temperature, and the relative sizes of polar and nonpolar regions also influence solubility.

## How this dataset was assembled

Each molecule is classified from bond polarity and molecular geometry, and the Basis column gives the specific reason. Dipole moments are experimental gas-phase values in debye from the NIST CCCBDB compilation, left blank when CCCBDB has no single unambiguous value (for example when conformers differ) or none at all. Simple hydrocarbons are labelled nonpolar even when they have a small measured dipole, and the Basis column says so. Ionic compounds are excluded because molecular polarity applies to discrete molecules.

Each row retains source identifiers where available. Molecular weight is calculated from the recorded formula, and the original names, structures, classifications, and database links remain visible so individual entries can be checked before reuse.

## License and citation

This compilation is free to download and reuse under the [Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) license. Credit ProteinIQ and the original sources when you share it or publish results that use it.

Suggested citation: ProteinIQ (2026). List of polar and nonpolar molecules, version 2026.10.05. https://proteiniq.io/datasets/polar-and-nonpolar-molecules

## Sources and further reading

- [PubChem](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/): Canonical compound identifiers, names, formulas, structures, SMILES, and downloadable compound records. NCBI places no restrictions on PubChem data, though original submitters may retain rights in submitted records.
- [NIST CCCBDB](https://cccbdb.nist.gov/diplistx.asp): Experimental gas-phase dipole moments (NIST Computational Chemistry Comparison and Benchmark Database, SRD 101). NIST Standard Reference Database 101; values are cited per row with the CCCBDB reference code.
- [RDKit](https://www.rdkit.org/): Derived descriptors such as molecular weight, LogP, TPSA, hydrogen-bond counts, and canonicalized structures.
- [OpenStax Chemistry](https://openstax.org/details/books/chemistry-2e): Chemistry definitions used for educational polarity, bonding, organic chemistry, and molecule-class explanations.

## Frequently asked questions