Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements best describes the polarity of a carbon dioxide (CO_2) molecule?
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13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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Which of the following molecules contains polar covalent bonds?
A
N_2
B
O_2
C
HCl
D
Cl_2
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that a polar covalent bond occurs when two atoms share electrons unequally due to a difference in electronegativity between them.
Identify the electronegativity values of the atoms involved in each molecule: N (nitrogen), O (oxygen), H (hydrogen), and Cl (chlorine).
Compare the electronegativity difference for each molecule's bond: \( N_2 \), \( O_2 \), \( HCl \), and \( Cl_2 \).
Note that \( N_2 \) and \( O_2 \) are diatomic molecules composed of identical atoms, so their bonds are nonpolar covalent because the electronegativity difference is zero.
Recognize that \( HCl \) consists of hydrogen and chlorine atoms, which have different electronegativities, resulting in a polar covalent bond due to unequal sharing of electrons.
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