Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces

Molecular Polarity

General Chemistry

13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces

Molecular Polarity

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following molecules has polar bonds but is overall nonpolar?

H2O

NH3

CHCl3

CO2

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the difference between polar bonds and overall molecular polarity. A polar bond occurs when there is a difference in electronegativity between two atoms, causing a dipole moment. Overall molecular polarity depends on both the polarity of individual bonds and the geometry of the molecule, which determines if dipole moments cancel out or add up.

Step 2: Analyze the molecule CO2. Identify the bonds: carbon is bonded to two oxygen atoms. Since oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, each C=O bond is polar.

Step 3: Consider the molecular geometry of CO2. CO2 is a linear molecule with the two polar C=O bonds arranged 180 degrees apart. This geometry causes the dipole moments of the two bonds to point in opposite directions and cancel each other out.

Step 4: Conclude that although CO2 has polar bonds, the linear geometry causes the dipoles to cancel, making the overall molecule nonpolar.

Step 5: Contrast this with the other molecules (H2O, NH3, CHCl3), which have polar bonds and molecular geometries that do not allow dipole moments to cancel, resulting in overall polar molecules.