Multiple Choice
Which of the following molecules has polar bonds but is a nonpolar molecule?
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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Is a molecule of hydrogen chloride (HCl) polar or nonpolar?
A
Nonpolar
B
Polar
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the atoms involved in the molecule. Hydrogen chloride (HCl) consists of one hydrogen (H) atom and one chlorine (Cl) atom bonded together.
Step 2: Determine the electronegativity values of hydrogen and chlorine. Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons in a bond. Chlorine has a higher electronegativity than hydrogen.
Step 3: Analyze the bond type based on electronegativity difference. Since chlorine is more electronegative, it will attract the shared electrons more strongly, creating a partial negative charge (δ-) on chlorine and a partial positive charge (δ+) on hydrogen.
Step 4: Consider the molecular geometry. HCl is a diatomic molecule, so it is linear with only two atoms, meaning there is no symmetry to cancel out the dipole moment.
Step 5: Conclude polarity. Because of the difference in electronegativity and the linear shape, HCl has a dipole moment, making it a polar molecule.
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