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Multiple Choice
Which one of the following molecules is polar?
A
CCl4
B
XeF4
C
XeF2
D
BrF5
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand that molecular polarity depends on both the polarity of individual bonds and the overall molecular geometry, which determines if bond dipoles cancel out or add up.
Step 2: Analyze the molecular geometry of each molecule using VSEPR theory: CCl4 is tetrahedral, XeF4 is square planar, XeF2 is linear, and BrF5 is square pyramidal.
Step 3: Determine the symmetry of each molecule: CCl4 and XeF4 are highly symmetrical, so their bond dipoles cancel, making them nonpolar; XeF2 is linear and symmetrical, so it is also nonpolar.
Step 4: Examine BrF5, which has a square pyramidal shape with one lone pair on the central atom, causing an asymmetrical shape and resulting in a net dipole moment, making it polar.
Step 5: Conclude that among the given molecules, BrF5 is polar due to its asymmetrical geometry and the presence of polar bonds that do not cancel out.