8 original questions from New Regents. The worksheet, answer key, and browser practice are free.

Download worksheet PDFDownload worked answer keyPractice these questions online
Symmetry and Molecular Polarity 4 questions

Symmetry and Molecular Polarity

New Regents original practice • Name: ____________________ Date: __________ Show your work for written answers.

A bond dipole points toward the more electronegative atom. A molecule has a net dipole when its bond dipoles do not cancel.

Question 1

Two equal bond dipoles point in opposite directions along the same line. What is their net dipole?

  1. Zero
  2. Equal to either dipole alone
  3. Twice the size of either dipole
  4. The larger dipole points backward.

Question 2

Two equal bond dipoles point at an angle of 105° to each other. Explain why their net dipole is not zero.

Write your answer and work on the printable worksheet, or answer online.

Question 3

In a tetrahedral molecule, four identical bond dipoles point symmetrically toward the four corners. What happens to their sum?

  1. It points toward any one chosen corner.
  2. It is zero.
  3. It equals one bond dipole.
  4. It is four times one bond dipole in every direction.

Question 4

A diatomic molecule has a single polar bond. Explain why it cannot cancel that bond dipole through molecular symmetry.

Write your answer and work on the printable worksheet, or answer online.

Answer this set online →

Comparing Molecular Structures 4 questions

Comparing Molecular Structures

Use the information below to answer the questions.

A chemistry display lists three molecular models. The bonds listed within each model have equal dipole magnitudes. The geometry gives their directions.

ModelMolecular geometryBond-dipole directions
CO2LinearFrom C toward each O
H2OBentFrom each H toward O
CF4TetrahedralFrom C toward each F

Question 5

Which molecule has a nonzero net dipole in these models?

  1. CO₂ only
  2. H₂O only
  3. CF₄ only
  4. All three

Question 6

Use the geometry and bond directions to explain how CO₂ can have polar bonds and a zero net dipole.

Write your answer and work on the printable worksheet, or answer online.

Question 7

Which pair both have cancelling dipoles, though their shapes differ?

  1. CO₂ and H₂O
  2. CO₂ and CF₄
  3. H₂O and CF₄
  4. All three

Question 8

Suppose one F in the CF₄ model is replaced by Cl, with a different bond-dipole magnitude. Explain what changes about the cancellation.

Write your answer and work on the printable worksheet, or answer online.

Answer this set online →

2025 Chemistry Reference Tables · Browse Chemistry worksheets