Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the polarity of boron trichloride (BCl_3)?
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13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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The reason water is polar is because:
A
the oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, creating an uneven distribution of electron density
B
both hydrogen atoms share electrons equally with the oxygen atom
C
water contains ionic bonds between hydrogen and oxygen
D
the molecule has a linear shape, causing the dipoles to cancel out
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of electronegativity, which is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond.
Recognize that in a water molecule (H\_2O), oxygen and hydrogen atoms are bonded covalently, meaning they share electrons.
Note that oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, so it pulls the shared electrons closer to itself, creating a partial negative charge on oxygen and partial positive charges on the hydrogens.
Consider the molecular shape of water, which is bent (not linear), so the dipole moments from the O-H bonds do not cancel out but instead add up to create an overall polar molecule.
Conclude that the polarity of water arises from the difference in electronegativity between oxygen and hydrogen and the bent shape of the molecule, leading to an uneven distribution of electron density.
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