Chemistry 109 – Discussion Worksheet #11.

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In Chapter 8 you learned that there are:

1. Nonpolar covalent bonds
2. Polar covalent bonds
3. Ionic bonds
Polarity for a molecule is defined as a situation in which there is a difference in electron
density, and therefore, electrical charge between one part of the molecule and the other.
Water is an example of a polar molecule:

The individual polar bond vectors add together to give an overall vector that is >0. In this
case it is in the up direction. Although the horizonal features of the vectors cancel out,
they both are pointed diagonally up, and this is additive. Notice how there is more
electron density (red) on the oxygen atom.

Carbon dioxide is an example of a molecule that contains polar bonds but those vectors
cancel each other out completely.

In order for a molecule to be a polar molecule there must be:

1. It must possess polar bonds. In other words, there must be a significant difference in
EN between the two atoms in the bond (refer to the discussion in previous chapter
about electronegativity and polar covalent bonds).
2. The polar bonds must be distributed in the molecule so that there is a net difference
in electron density from one part of the molecule to another. In other words, the
polar bonds should not cancel out.

Measuring Polarity
The dipole moment (µ) is a quantitative expression of the polarity of a molecule

Its units are debyes (D) and a more positive number is indicative of a more polar
molecule. The arrow you learned to draw for polar bonds is the graphical representation
of a dipole moment. Notice how the dipole arrow is drawn on water to indicate the
overall direction of polarity for the molecule.
Activity. Draw Lewis structures for the following molecules. Identify the molecular
geometry and determine if the molecules are polar or nonpolar.

a. CH4

b. NCl3

c. CCl2F2

d. CF2H2

e. CH2O

f. HCN

g. PI3

h. N2O

i. SO2

j. CS2
k. CO

l. H2O

m. COF2

n. N2

o. O2

p. H2

q. Cl2

r. HF

s. O3

t. NI3