Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the polarity of carbon disulfide (CS_2)?
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13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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What does it mean when a molecule is said to be "polar"?
A
It has equal sharing of electrons between all atoms, resulting in no charge separation.
B
It contains only nonpolar covalent bonds and has a symmetrical shape.
C
It has an uneven distribution of electron density, resulting in a molecule with a partial positive end and a partial negative end.
D
It is composed entirely of ions held together by ionic bonds.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that polarity in molecules arises from differences in electronegativity between atoms, which causes uneven sharing of electrons.
Recognize that when electrons are shared unequally, one part of the molecule becomes slightly negative (partial negative charge) and another part becomes slightly positive (partial positive charge).
Know that this uneven distribution of electron density creates a dipole moment, which is a measure of the polarity of the molecule.
Note that molecules with polar covalent bonds and an asymmetrical shape tend to be polar overall, because the dipole moments do not cancel out.
Contrast this with nonpolar molecules, which have either equal sharing of electrons or symmetrical shapes that cause dipole moments to cancel, resulting in no overall polarity.
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