How would life be different if water was a non-polar molecule?

Why is a carbon dioxide a nonpolar molecule while water is a polar molecule?

• Answer:

  Simply put, polarity depends on how symmetrical a molecule is; the more symmetrical, the more balanced the charge within the structure. A molecule is polar if it has unbalanced charge, for example water, which is v-shaped and has a negative dipole (area of charge) near the oxygen and two smaller, positive dipoles on the hydrogens. Having unbalanced charge within the structure does not make the molecule itself charged; water is still neutral as the -2 charge on the oxygen is neutralised by the +1 charge on each of the two hydrogens. Carbon dioxide is non-polar because it is straight in shape, with an oxygen either side of the carbon, ensuring no dipoles occur. In diagram to demonstrate (imagine lines between the oxygen and hydrogens):):):):):):):): O=C=O O H H