Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the polarity of the molecule HClO (hypochlorous acid)?
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13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
Molecular Polarity
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Which of the following best describes the polarity of the molecule H2CO3 (carbonic acid)?
A
H2CO3 is a nonpolar molecule because all its bonds are nonpolar.
B
H2CO3 is polar only in the gas phase.
C
H2CO3 is a polar molecule because it has an asymmetric distribution of electron density.
D
H2CO3 is nonpolar due to its linear geometry.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the molecular formula and structure of carbonic acid (H2CO3). It consists of a central carbon atom bonded to three oxygen atoms, with two of the oxygens also bonded to hydrogen atoms.
Step 2: Determine the molecular geometry around the central carbon atom. Carbon is bonded to three oxygens, and the molecule is not linear; it has a trigonal planar arrangement around carbon with some asymmetry due to the presence of hydroxyl groups (-OH).
Step 3: Analyze the polarity of individual bonds. The C=O and C-OH bonds are polar because oxygen is more electronegative than carbon and hydrogen, creating dipole moments.
Step 4: Consider the overall molecular polarity by evaluating the symmetry and vector sum of the bond dipoles. Because the molecule has an asymmetric distribution of electron density (due to different bonding environments of the oxygens), the dipoles do not cancel out.
Step 5: Conclude that H2CO3 is a polar molecule because it has an asymmetric shape and polar bonds, leading to a net dipole moment.
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