what is ethanol’s polarity?

None, polar, partial or both polar and nonpolar.

Would it be both polar and nonpolar

it disolves in water (polar) and in hexane (non polar). Both polar and nonpolar molecule.

Ethanol is a polar molecule. To determine the polarity of a molecule, you need to analyze its molecular structure and the distribution of its charges. In the case of ethanol, it consists of an oxygen atom bonded to a carbon atom, which is then bonded to three hydrogen atoms.

The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the carbon and hydrogen atoms, meaning it has a stronger pull on the shared electrons. As a result, the oxygen atom in ethanol develops a partial negative charge (δ-) while the hydrogen atoms develop partial positive charges (δ+). This unequal distribution of charges creates a dipole moment and makes ethanol a polar molecule.

In terms of its polarity, ethanol cannot be considered nonpolar because it possesses a dipole moment due to the electronegativity difference between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. However, it is important to note that ethanol also has a nonpolar portion, which is the carbon chain. This nonpolar region, however, does not outweigh the polar effects of the oxygen atom and the associated dipole moment, so ethanol is still considered a polar molecule overall.