Multiple Choice
Which of the following diagrams correctly identifies the polar portion of a water (H_2O) molecule by circling it?
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13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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Which one of the following molecules is polar?
A
CO_2
B
CBr_4
C
CHBr_3
D
F_2
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand that molecular polarity depends on both the polarity of individual bonds and the geometry of the molecule. A molecule is polar if it has a net dipole moment, meaning the bond dipoles do not cancel out.
Step 2: Analyze the molecular geometry of each molecule: CO_2 is linear, CBr_4 is tetrahedral, CHBr_3 is tetrahedral, and F_2 is diatomic and nonpolar.
Step 3: Consider the symmetry and electronegativity differences: CO_2 has two polar C=O bonds arranged linearly, so their dipoles cancel out, making CO_2 nonpolar. CBr_4 has four identical C-Br bonds symmetrically arranged, so dipoles cancel, making it nonpolar.
Step 4: For CHBr_3, the molecule is tetrahedral but has different atoms (one C-H bond and three C-Br bonds), which creates an asymmetrical distribution of electron density, resulting in a net dipole moment and making it polar.
Step 5: F_2 is a diatomic molecule with identical atoms, so the bond is nonpolar and the molecule is nonpolar.
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