Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the molecular polarity of PCl_5?
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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Which of the following best describes the polarity of the molecule SO_2?
A
SO_2 is a nonpolar molecule.
B
SO_2 is ionic.
C
SO_2 is neither polar nor nonpolar.
D
SO_2 is a polar molecule.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Determine the Lewis structure of SO_2. Sulfur (S) is the central atom bonded to two oxygen (O) atoms. Draw the bonds and lone pairs to understand the molecular geometry.
Step 2: Identify the molecular geometry of SO_2. Because sulfur has one lone pair and two bonded oxygen atoms, the shape is bent (angular), not linear.
Step 3: Consider the electronegativity difference between sulfur and oxygen. Oxygen is more electronegative than sulfur, so the S–O bonds are polar with dipole moments pointing toward oxygen.
Step 4: Analyze the vector sum of the bond dipoles. Due to the bent shape, the dipole moments do not cancel out, resulting in a net dipole moment for the molecule.
Step 5: Conclude that because SO_2 has polar bonds arranged asymmetrically, the molecule is polar, not nonpolar or ionic.
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