Multiple Choice
Which of the following molecules is polar?
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13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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When a chloride ion (Cl^-) is surrounded by water molecules, which part of the water molecule is oriented toward the chloride ion?
A
Neither hydrogen nor oxygen atoms
B
The hydrogen atoms
C
The oxygen atom
D
Both hydrogen and oxygen atoms equally
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the nature of the chloride ion (Cl^-): it carries a negative charge.
Recall the polarity of a water molecule: water has a bent shape with a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom.
Since opposite charges attract, the positively charged part of water (hydrogen atoms) will be attracted to negatively charged ions, and the negatively charged part (oxygen atom) will be attracted to positively charged ions.
Because Cl^- is negatively charged, the part of the water molecule that orients toward it will be the positively charged hydrogen atoms, not the oxygen atom.
Therefore, the correct orientation is that the hydrogen atoms of water point toward the chloride ion.
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