Benzil, a compound known as 1,2-diphenylethanedione, is classified as nonpolar. This classification primarily arises from its molecular structure and the arrangement of its atoms.
To understand why benzil is nonpolar, we need to look at its molecular geometry. Benzil contains two phenyl groups and a carbonyl group (C=O) in the center. While carbonyl groups are polar due to the significant difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen, the overall symmetry of the benzil molecule plays a crucial role in its polarity.
The two phenyl groups are arranged in such a way that they are symmetrical around the central carbon chain. This symmetry causes the dipole moments of the two carbonyl groups to cancel each other out, resulting in no net dipole moment across the molecule. As a result, despite having polar bonds, the overall molecular structure of benzil leads to a nonpolar character.
In summary, while benzil contains polar functional groups, its symmetrical structure ensures that these polarities do not accumulate in a way that leads to an overall polar molecule, making benzil nonpolar.