simple geometric property where a structure may be rotated by some angle <360 degrees, and after rotation, molecule has same configuration as before rotation
polarity can be deduced from bond polarity and molecular symmetry
symmetrical molecules = generally nonpolar, even if individual bonds that make up molecule are very polar
nonsymmetrical molecules generally polar unless bond polarities = 0
polarity, deduced from molecular geometry, can be used to understand many physical properties such as boiling point, vapor pressure, viscosity, surface tension, etc., of a wide variety of substances