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3 Electronegativity Bond Polarity 

Key Terms  
● Non-Polar Covalent: ​a covalent bond where the electrons are shared 
equally between atoms 
● Polar Covalent Bond: ​a covalent bond where the electrons are not 
shared equally because one atom attracts them stronger than the 
other atom.  
●  
Electronegativity 
● The ability of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons to itself.  
● It can be seen that electronegativity increases across periods on the 
periodic table. 
○  

 
● Electronegativity in relation to bond type 
○ Electronegativity: <0.5  
Bond type: non-polar covalent  
Character: covalent  
○ Electronegativity: 0.5 - 1.7 
Bond type: polar covalent  
Character: covalent and ionic 
○ Electronegativity: >1.7 
Bond type: ionic  
Character: ionic 

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Bond Polarities and Dipoles in Diatomic Molecules 
● Dipoles: ​a separation of positive and negative charges in a 
region/place in space 
● For example, hydrogen fluoride has a specific orientation in which 
the distribution is drawn to one side of the molecule 
○  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Using Electronegativity Values to Determine Bond Polarity 
1. These will most likely be asked to be given in order of most to least 
polar or vice versa.   
2. You will be given 2 elements which are bonded 
3. Find their electronegativity  
4. Then subtract the larger from the smaller.  
a. The difference is the electronegativity of the molecule 
For example. . . 
H-H, O-H, Cl-H, S-H, F-H, in order of decreasing predicted bond polarity. 
The general formula is . . . EN​x-y​=EN​x​-EN​y 
 
H-H= 2.1-2.1  S-H=2.5-2.1 
=0  =0.4 
   
O-H=3.5-2.1  F-H=4-2.1 
=1.4  =1.9 
   
Cl-H=3-2.1  In order F-H, O-H, Cl-H, S-H, H-H 
=0.9   
     
   

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4.5 Molecular Polarity 
Polar and Non-Polar Polyatomic Molecules 
● So far you should know that molecules can become polar when they 
have significantly different electronegativities.   
● Fairly symmetrical VSEPR shapes have polar bonds with no net 
dipole.  
○ Linear with 2 identical bonds 
○ Planar with 3 identical bonds 
○ Tetrahedral with 4 identical bonds 
 
Key Terms  
● Polar molecule: ​A molecule that has a net dipole. (which is almost like 
an average for direction)   
● Non-Polar Molecule: ​A molecule that has only nonpolar bonds or a 
dipole sum of zero.   
 
Predicting Polarity of Molecules 
1.Draw a simplified lewis structure diagram  
2.Use VESPR Theory to predict the structure 
3.Identify the electronegativity for each atom 
4.Draw the direction of the bond dipoles according to which has a 
higher electronegativity.  
● For example, CF​4 following
​ the laid out steps  
●  
 
 
 
 
●  
 
 
 
 
 
●  
 
 
   

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4.3 Electronegativity Bond Polarity 
 
Youtube Video on Bond Polarity for Extra Help 
https://youtu.be/PVL24HAesnc 
 
Text Book Homework Page 221, numbers 1 to 6 
Answers are provided at the back of the book. 
 
 
 
 
 
4.5 Molecular Polarity 
 
Youtube Video on Molecular Polarity for Extra Help 
 
https://youtu.be/cpWHgKgKxGk 
 
Text Book Homework Page 229, numbers 1 to 7 
Answers are provided at the back of the book. 
 

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