> O.K., I'll bite. What the heck does "polar" or "non-polar" refer to?
>
> Jeremy Constant
> A114
This refers to the molecules that make up the liquid. If the molecule acts
like a little magnet, with a north and south pole then it is refered to as
"polar"; water is the most common example. If it does not have any magnetic
moment then it is "non-polar"; oil being a common example. Polar and non-polar
molecules will not dissolve one another or even mix (see oil and water).
BDR
(not a chemical engineer, I just play one on the web)
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