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Lesson 14 Electronegativity 11 2021doc

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23 views6 pages

Lesson 14 Electronegativity 11 2021doc

Uploaded by

brandontshegofatsomogoru
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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LESSON 13 11 2021

Electronegativity of atoms to explain the polarity of


Bonds

Electronegativity

is a measure of the tendency of an atom in a molecule to attract bonding electrons.

ELECTRONEGATIVITIES OF ELEMENTS

A non-polar covalent bond

is a bond in which the electron density is shared


equally between the two atoms.
If there is no difference in the electronegativity values of the atoms, we have a
non-polar covalent bond. This means that the charges are evenly distributed
between the two atoms. For example, a C - S bond is non-polar because both
atoms have an electronegativity value of 2,1.
A polar covalent bond

is a bond in which the electron density is shared


unequally between the two atoms. An example is the bond between an H atom and a
Cℓ atom.

In a bond between two atoms, the atom that attracts electrons more strongly has the
higher electronegativity value. This atom is given a small negative sign, which we
write as δ–. The other atom in the bond is given a small positive sign, written as δ+.
These signs indicate the polarity of atoms in a bond, that is, one is more negative and
one is more positive, for example:
δ+ H - Cl δ–

An electronegativity difference ΔEN > 2,1 electron transfer will take place and
the bond will be ionic.

An electronegativity difference ΔEN > 1 the bond will be polar covalent.

An electronegativity difference ΔEN < 1 the bond will be very weakly polar
covalent.

An electronegativity difference ΔEN = 0 the bond will be nonpolar. Covalent

The character of a bond varies from purely covalent (when ΔEN = 0) to


almost purely ionic (when ΔEN > 3). The differences in electronegativity is only a
guideline, many bonds have both ionic and covalent character.
POLARITY OF MOLECULES

The polarity of a bond is measured by its dipole moment . we decide whether a


molecule as a whole is polar or non-polar. In other words, does the molecule have one side
that is more negative than the other side? Is there a net dipole moment in the molecule?
If only two atoms are joined, the shape of a molecule is linear. If the two atoms
are the same, the molecule is non-polar, for example the H2 molecule. However, if
the two atoms have different electronegativities, the bond is polar. Then the linear
molecule will also be polar, because there is a net dipole moment (see HCl).

In molecules with more than two atoms, we add the dipole moments of each bond in
the same way that we add vectors. If the vector sum is zero, the molecule is non-polar,
even though the bonds are polar.
For example, if a molecule consists of three atoms, the molecule can have a linear or
an angular shape. CO2 is an example of a linear molecule. Each
C = O bond is slightly polar. Since the molecule is symmetrical, it is non-polar. The
vector sum of the dipole moments is zero.

CO2
The bonds in the H2O molecule are polar. Since the H2O molecule is angular and therefore
asymmetrical, this molecule is polar. The ‘side’ with the H-atoms is more positive than the
‘side’ with the O-atom. There is a net dipole moment when we add the vectors.

If a molecule consists of four atoms, the molecule can have a trigonal planar or a
trigonal pyramidal shape. BF3; it has a trigonal planar shape. The B - F bonds are polar, but
the molecule is flat and symmetrical. Therefore this molecule is non-polar. For NH3. The
molecule has a three-dimensional shape like a pyramid.
The ‘end’ with the N-atom is more negative than the ‘end’ with the H-atoms. The
molecule is asymmetrical and therefore polar.

The tetrahedral shape of molecules with five atoms, such as CH4 is common. Four atoms
are arranged around a central atom. The tetrahedral shape is symmetrical, so when all four
surrounding atoms are the same, the molecule is non-polar. If the four surrounding atoms
have different electronegativities, the molecule is polar. The ‘side’ of the molecule with a
more electronegative atom will be the more negative side of the molecule.CH3Cl. The
molecule has a tetrahedral shape, but because all the atoms around the C-atom are not the
same, the molecule is polar.

PRACTICE QUESTION
2.5

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