Polarity in Covalent Bonds

Bonding Movie
 Polar Bond
• Polar means poles
– uneven distribution of electrons
– Polar bond: one end of bond has more
electrons than other end
 Nonpolar Bond
• Nonpolar
Non = No poles

• even distribution of electrons

• electron cloud same on one end of bond
as other end
H2 is symmetric: Both
ends the same; electron
cloud football-shaped

HCl is asymmetric:
electron cloud
lopsided; Cl side more
electrons than H side
 Which bond(s) are polar?
Which are nonpolar?
Polar: LiH & HF Nonpolar: H2
Red: e- rich

Blue: e- poor
How can predict
if BOND is
polar or not?

Compare electronegativity values of

two atoms in bond
 Electronegativity
Ability of atom to attract
electrons in bond

Found in Table S!
Electronegativities of the Elements
 Bond Polarity
• more electronegative atom pulls bonding e-
more strongly & gets more than fair share of
electron cloud
– leads to separation of charge
• electron-rich side is partially negative (-)
• electron-poor side is partially positive (+)
Delta notation
 BOND Polarity
• Depends on electronegativity difference
between two atoms in bond

A B  EA - E B 
•- care only about size of difference, not sign

•- bigger the difference, the more polar the bond

 Calculate
electronegativity
difference for each
of these bonds

LiH : 2.1 – 1.0 H2 : 2.1 – 2.1 HF: 2.1 – 4

1.1 0 1.9
 Bond Polarity
• What can say about polarity of bond
where atom A is same as atom B?

If both atoms are same element:

electronegativity difference = 0

therefore will be non-polar

 Electronegativity Difference
Difference in Type of
Electronegativities Bond

0.0 to 0.5 nonpolar covalent

>0.5 to 1.7 polar covalent

> 1.7 ionic

Electronegativity & Bond Type
 Review
• Which of following bonds is most polar?
– A) O2 3.4 – 3.4 = 0
– B) HCl 2.1 – 3.2 = -1.1 = 1.1
– C) NH in NH3 3.0 – 2.1 = 0.9
– D) HBr 3.0 – 2.1 = 0.9

Answer =(B) HCl

 Review
• Which substance contains bond with
greatest ionic character?
– A) KCl 0.8 – 3.2 = -2.4 = 2.4
– B) HCl 2.1 – 3.2 = -1.1 = 1.1
– C) Cl2 3.2 – 3.2 = 0
– D) CCl4 2.6 – 3.2 = -0.6 = 0.6

Answer = (A) KCl

 Summary
• Nonpolar covalent bonds form:
– between atoms having equal or close
electronegativity values: 0.0 - 0.5

• Polar covalent bonds form:

– between atoms with electronegativity
difference >0.5 to 1.7
 Predict the Polarity
• N2 Nonpolar
• HF Polar
• HCl Polar
• O2 Nonpolar
Cl2 Nonpolar
•
Polar
• HI
• Polar
HBr
 MOLECULE Polarity
• Diatomic molecules:
– molecular polarity is same as
bond polarity
MOLECULE Polarity (3+ elements)

• Depends on 2 factors
1. Type bonds in molecule
2. Arrangement of bonds or shape of
molecule

Think SYMMETRY!!
For larger molecules:
• look at kind & arrangement of bonds to
determine overall polarity of molecule
 Polarity of Molecules
• molecule may contain polar bonds, but not
be polar!
– depends on geometry of molecule
• If molecule is symmetric:
– “pull” of one polar bond is offset by “pull” of
another polar bond
– tug-of-war that no one can win!
 Symmetric Molecules
• Contain at least two mirror
planes of symmetry
 Symmetric vs. Asymmetric

CO2 is nonpolar: electron cloud is symmetric

H2O is polar: electron cloud lop-sided (asymmetrical)

 Polarity of CO2?

Draw arrow along each bond pointing to more

electronegative atom
If arrows cancel out, molecule is NONPOLAR
Polarity of H2O?

green arrows do
NOT cancel out
- water is polar!
structural formula can be used to
predict Molecular Polarity!

H

HCH


H
Symmetry of Larger Molecules

CF4 is symmetric
so is nonpolar
 Ethane = C2H6

Ethene = C2H4

Ethyne = C2H2

These molecules are symmetric - electron

cloud is same on both ends: they are nonpolar