The polarity of n-hexane and ethyl acetate is related to its molecular structure and charge distribution, which has a significant impact on various chemical processes. The n-hexane belongs to the alkane class, and its molecular structure is chain-like, with carbon-hydrogen bonds as the main one. The electronegativity of carbon and hydrogen is not far away, and the electron cloud distribution is relatively uniform, causing the overall charge distribution of the molecule to be symmetrical, so it is a non-polar molecule. Looking at its use, it is mostly used as a non-polar solvent. Soluble non-polar or weakly polar substances, such as oils, waxes, etc., are also compatible with similar species due to their non-polar properties.

As for ethyl acetate, its molecular structure contains ester groups. In the ester group, the oxygen atom of the carbon-oxygen double bond has strong electronegativity and good ability to attract electrons, which makes the electron cloud biased towards the oxygen atom, causing the molecular charge distribution to be asymmetric and polar. This polar characteristic makes its solubility different from n-hexane, which can dissolve some polar and non-polar substances, and has a wider range of applications. In organic synthesis, it is often used as a solvent and reaction intermediate, and can participate in a variety of reactions due to its polarity.

Compared with the two, the polarity of n-hexane is weak, and the polarity of ethyl acetate is stronger. This difference is evident in extraction, chromatographic separation and other operations. During extraction, n-hexane or ethyl acetate can be selected to extract different polar solutes according to the principle of similar miscibility of solute and solvent polarity. In chromatographic separation, the polar collocation of the stationary phase and the mobile phase is also determined according to the polar characteristics of n-hexane and ethyl acetate, so as to achieve the purpose of effective separation.

In summary, it is of great significance to clarify the polar differences between n-hexane and ethyl acetate in the fields of chemical research, industrial production, etc., to help researchers and practitioners make good use of their properties and achieve success.