Why are alkenes nonpolar?

1 Answer
Oct 3, 2016

The alkenes are made of Carbons and Hydrogens with some double bonds between the Carbons that have little difference in electronegativity.

Explanation:

Non polar molecules are made of atoms that have small differences in electronegativity.

Carbon has an electronegativity of 2.5 while Hydrogen has an electronegativity of 2.2. This is a difference of only .3 electronegativity. This makes the compound non polar.

Polar covalent molecules like water have a greater difference of electronegativity.