POLARITY OF

MOLECULES
At the end of this module, you should
be able to:
1. Define electronegativity
2. Recognize the electronegativity of
elements in the periodic table
3. Explain the VSEPR theory
4. Draw the geometry of molecules using
the VSEPR theory
5. Distinguish between polar and non-polar
molecules
Activity 1. The
Mystery Word: Four
Pics One Word
Electronegativity
 Lesson 1: Electronegativity

Electronegativity refers to the

extent of attraction of an atom for a shared
pair of electron. It is a measure of the
attraction of an atom for electrons in a
covalent bond. The larger the
electronegativity of an atom, the more
strongly it attracts electrons.
 Electronegativity
The greater the difference between
the electronegativity of the two atoms
involved in the bond, the greater is the
polarity of the molecule. Using the
periodic table, electronegativity
increases from left to right which
means that nonmetals are more
electronegative than metals.
• Bond polarity based on the electronegativity
(EN) difference between the atoms present in
a molecule is one good way to determine the
polarity of a molecule, whether a molecule is
polar or nonpolar. Please take note of the
following:
Table 1: Bonding Range
 Polar bonds
• occur when electron pairs are
unequally shared due to the
difference in electronegativity of the
atoms.
• The greater the difference in
electronegativity between two
atoms, the more polar their bond is.
 Polar bonds
• Unequal sharing of electrons between atoms
creates a dipole (two poles) ( ). This means
that one end of a polar bond is more negative
while the other end is more positive.
• The atom with higher electronegativity value
increases in electron density and thus,
develops a slight negative charge or partial
negative charge
 Polar bonds
• On the other side, electron density is less on
the side of the atom with lower
electronegativity, and that atom gains a slight
positive charge
 Non polar bond
• develops if both atoms equally share a pair of
electron between them. This happens when
the bonding atoms have approximately equal
ability to attract electron on each side (equal
electronegativity value). The electron density
is spread evenly (or essentially evenly)
between the two atoms in the bond. Since a
pair of electrons is shared equally between
atoms, there is no partial charge created,
hence, no dipole moment.
Non polar bond
 Activity 2. Molecular Polarity
(Based on Electronegativity
Difference)
Directions: Predict whether the bond of the
following molecules is polar or nonpolar based
on the electronegativity difference of the
elements/atoms present.
Lesson 2: Molecular Geometry: VSEPR
(Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion)
Theory
• Here we will study another factor which is the
shape, or geometry, of molecules. Geometry
has an important influence on the physical and
chemical properties of molecules, such as
density, melting point, boiling point, and
reactivity. We will see that we can predict the
shapes of molecules with considerable
accuracy using a simple method based on
Lewis structures.
To help you become familiar on the different
geometrical shape of the molecules, let’s do
an activity.
Activity 3: What Shape is this?
• Match the geometrical shape in A
with its corresponding name in B.
Write your answer on the blank
provided with the name itself.
 Molecular geometry
• pertains to the three-dimensional
arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
Geometry affects the physical and
chemical properties of molecules and
their reactivity towards other molecules.
Molecular geometry can be determined
by experiment such as x-ray diffraction.
The approach in predicting molecular
geometry is called the Valence Shell
Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (VSEPR).
 The key ideas of the VSEPR theory
are:
1. Electron pairs stay as far apart from each other as
possible to minimize repulsions.
2. Molecular shape is determined by the number of
bond pairs and lone pairs around the central atom.
3. Treat multiple bonds as if they were single bonds (in
making the prediction).
4. Lone pairs occupy more volume than bond pairs.
Lone pair – lone pair repulsions are greater than lone
pair – bond pair repulsions which in turn are greater
than bond pair – bond pair repulsions
To describe the difference between lone pairs
and bonding pairs, please refer to the
illustrations below.
To describe the difference between lone pairs
and bonding pairs, please refer to the
illustrations below.
To describe the difference between lone pairs
and bonding pairs, please refer to the
illustrations below.
• To minimize the repulsion,
electron pairs (bond pair and lone
pair) should be oriented
accordingly. Table 2, shows the
arrangement of a specific number
of electron pairs and its
corresponding VSEPR Shape.
Table 2: Arrangement of Electron Pairs
and its Corresponding VSEPR Shape
• Note that the arrangement of
electron pair does not necessarily
mean the same to its molecular
geometry. The molecular geometry
is determined by the position of the
nuclei of the atoms. We do not “see”
lone pairs.
 Guidelines for Applying the VSEPR
Model
1. Write the Lewis structure of the molecule,
considering only the electron pairs around the
central atom (that is, the atom that is bonded to
more than one other atom). For a molecule in
which the atom is bonded to another single atom
like O2 and HCl, the geometrical shape is obviously
linear.
2. Count the number of electron pairs around the
central atom (bonding pairs and lone pairs). Treat
double and triple bonds as though they were single
bonds. Refer to Table 2 to predict the overall
arrangement of the electron pairs.
 Guidelines for Applying the VSEPR
Model
3. Use Tables 2 to predict the geometry of the
molecule.
4. In predicting bond angles, note that a lone
pair repels another lone pair or a bonding pair
more strongly than a bonding pair repels
another bonding pair. Remember that in general
there is no easy way to predict bond angles
accurately when the central atom possesses one
or more lone pairs.
Let’s use the guidelines for sample
molecule:
 Activity 4: Molecular Architecture
(Part 1)
• Given the Lewis structure of the following
molecules, predict the VSEPR Shape that
corresponds to the structure of molecule.
Draw the molecular geometry. Use the
information in Table 2 for your answer.
The VSEPR model generates reliable predictions
of the geometries of a variety of molecular
structures. Chemists use the VSEPR approach
because of its simplicity. As mentioned earlier,
aside from electronegativity as factor to
determine the polarity of molecule, molecular
geometry applying the VSEPR theory is one good
way to determine whether a molecule is polar or
nonpolar. Looking at the geometry and
arrangement of molecule we can easily
determine the polarity of a molecule.
 Here are some points to remember to determine the
polarity of molecules base on the
geometrical arrangement of molecules.
Nonpolar molecule
A molecule is nonpolar if the shape of the
molecule is symmetrical. This is due to the equal
sharing of electrons hence, no dipole moment is
produced thus, the valence electrons are shared
equally on both sides of an atom.
• Example: O2 , F2, Cl2 and other diatomic
molecules containing atoms of the same
element.
• The central atom does not have lone pairs,
thus all its electrons were equally shared to
another atom of the same element. Example:
CF4 and CO2
 Polar Molecules
• A molecule is polar, if the shape of the
molecule is asymmetrical. This is due to the
unequal sharing of electrons between atoms
creating a dipole moment. Example: HCl, HF
where Cl and F atoms are more
electronegative than H atom
 Activity 5: Polarity of Molecules
• Direction: Complete the table below with the
necessary information learned from Lesson 1
to Lesson 3. Use separate sheet of bond paper
for your answers.