Is propionic acid polar

Answer 1

yes, it is a polar molecule because the carboxylic acid group (COOH) on the end is electron-rich. it also fairly easily loses the proton from the -OH of the carboxylic acid to make it an ion in solution (called propionate). it is also miscible with water, which is a hint that it is polar as well.

polarity is a relative term, however: take the longer-chain carboxylic acids oleic acid (main component of olive oil) and stearic acid as an example. there is an unequal distribution of charge over the molecule (the hydrocarbon chain vs the COOH), yet they're pretty nonpolar and immiscible with water. the reason for this is that the hydrocarbon chain is so long it weighs the "nonpolar" side of things more heavily. the general rule for straight-chain hydrocarbon carboxylic acids is they get less polar and less strong (as an acid) as the hydrocarbon chain increases in length.

Answer 2

Yes it does not dissociate completely