MOLECULAR POLARITYFIELD NOTE 126 / 175
Is HOCH2CH2OH polar or nonpolar?
HOCH2CH2OH is polar because its two hydroxyl groups and flexible chain give it a nonzero dipole.
Ethylene Glycol · tetrahedral at each C; bent at each O
The molecule in space
Drag to turn the molecule. Show angles to read the model geometry.
01 / MODEL RECORDPubChem 3D coordinates. Atom sizes and bond thickness are illustrative.How model data is used ↗
Why HOCH2CH2OH is polar
Each oxygen has two lone pairs and participates in polar C–O and O–H bonds. The two –OH groups can rotate with the C–C and C–O bonds, so one simple flat symmetry drawing does not cancel their contributions.
What to notice
Ethylene glycol has several conformations. A displayed 3D conformer is one accessible arrangement, not a fixed shape for every molecule in solution.
Common questions about HOCH2CH2OH
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of HOCH2CH2OH show?
The connectivity is H–O–CH2–CH2–O–H. Each oxygen forms two single bonds and has two lone pairs.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of HOCH2CH2OH?
HOCH2CH2OH has a tetrahedral at each C; bent at each O molecular geometry. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 107.5° and 109°. These angles come from the displayed model coordinates.
- 03
What is the molar mass of HOCH2CH2OH?
HOCH2CH2OH has an approximate molar mass of 62.07 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.