What happens to bond polarity when two atoms with different electronegativities bond?

When two atoms with different electronegativities form a bond, their differing attraction for electrons results in unequal sharing of those electrons. The atom with the higher electronegativity will attract the shared electrons more strongly, causing that end of the bond to acquire a partial negative charge. Conversely, the atom with the lower electronegativity will have a partial positive charge due to the relative lack of electron density around it. This separation of charge leads to a polar bond, characterized by one end being partially positive and the other end being partially negative, which aligns with the answer provided.

In contrast, a nonpolar bond would occur between two identical atoms or atoms with very similar electronegativities, leading to equal sharing of electrons. If both ends remained neutral, there would be no charge separation, indicating no bond polarization occurred. Thus, the correct understanding of bond polarity hinges on the differences in electronegativity between the bonding atoms, resulting in partial charges.