Using the compounds CHCl3 and CCl4 as examples, explain the difference between a polar bond and a polar compound.

A polar bond occurs when the charge distribution between atoms in a bond is unequal. A polar compound, or a polar molecule, happens when the opposing ends of a molecule are not symmetric in charge meaning one end is negative and one end is positive.

Explanation:

CHCl3 is a polar molecule because the single hydrogen atom does not cancel out the three chlorine atoms bonded to the carbon, it creates a negative charge on one side and a positive on the other. CCl4 is a non-polar molecule because all four of the atoms in the tetrahedral are chlorines, causing them to cancel each other out. It is possible to have polar bonds within non-polar molecules.