<p>ok im a little confused. i understand ionic bonding (nonmetal and metal) and covalent bonding (nonmetals) but, with nonpolar covalent, is that only diatomic molecules such as O2, or is it other things too? how do u distinguish?</p>
<p>You can look at the structure of the molecule to determine whether it is polar or nonpolar.
Diatomic molecules are non-polar because they share the electrons equally.
CO2 is also non-polar, because it has a linear structure, O=C=O, so the distribution of electrons is also equal.
CH4, CCl4, etc. are also non-polar, because they have a tetrahedral structure, and the "branches" are all identical, and have the same pull on electrons.
CH3Cl would be polar.
H2O is polar, since it has a bent structure.</p>
<p>thank you :). that really helped.</p>