Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces

Molecular Polarity

General Chemistry

13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces

Molecular Polarity

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the molecular polarity of AlBr3?

AlBr3 is a polar molecule because it contains polar Al–Br bonds and an asymmetric shape.

AlBr3 is a polar molecule because it has a lone pair on the central aluminum atom.

AlBr3 is nonpolar because it is an ionic compound.

AlBr3 is a nonpolar molecule because its molecular geometry is trigonal planar and the bond dipoles cancel.

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Verified step by step guidance

Identify the central atom and the atoms bonded to it in AlBr3. Aluminum (Al) is the central atom bonded to three bromine (Br) atoms.

Determine the molecular geometry of AlBr3 by considering the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs on the central atom. Aluminum has three bonding pairs and no lone pairs, which leads to a trigonal planar shape.

Recall that in a trigonal planar molecule, the bond angles are approximately 120° and the molecule is symmetrical.

Analyze the polarity of the Al–Br bonds. Each Al–Br bond is polar due to the difference in electronegativity between Al and Br.

Evaluate the overall molecular polarity by considering the vector sum of the bond dipoles. Because the molecule is trigonal planar and symmetrical, the bond dipoles cancel out, making AlBr3 a nonpolar molecule.