Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes the molecular structure of water (H_2O) and explains why it is a polar molecule?
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13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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Is the molecule BeCl_2 polar or nonpolar?
A
BeCl_2 is polar because the Be-Cl bonds are highly polar.
B
BeCl_2 is polar because it has a bent molecular geometry.
C
BeCl_2 is nonpolar because it has a linear geometry and the dipoles cancel.
D
BeCl_2 is nonpolar because chlorine is less electronegative than beryllium.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the central atom and the atoms bonded to it in the molecule BeCl_2. Here, beryllium (Be) is the central atom bonded to two chlorine (Cl) atoms.
Determine the molecular geometry of BeCl_2 using the VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory. Since Be has two bonding pairs and no lone pairs, the shape is linear.
Understand the concept of bond polarity: the Be-Cl bonds are polar because chlorine is more electronegative than beryllium, creating dipole moments pointing from Be to Cl.
Analyze the molecular polarity by considering the geometry: in a linear molecule, the two bond dipoles are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction, so they cancel each other out.
Conclude that because the dipoles cancel due to the linear geometry, BeCl_2 is a nonpolar molecule overall, despite having polar bonds.
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