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Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life
Chapter 2, Problem 5

Which of these molecules would you predict to have the largest number of polar covalent bonds based on their molecular formulas? a. C2H6O (ethanol) b. C2H6 (ethane) c. C2H4O2 (acetic acid) d. C3H8O (propanol)

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1
Identify the presence of oxygen in the molecular formulas, as oxygen commonly forms polar covalent bonds with hydrogen and carbon due to its higher electronegativity.
Compare the number of oxygen atoms in each molecule, as more oxygen atoms can indicate more opportunities for polar covalent bonds. Ethanol (C2H6O) has 1 oxygen, Ethane (C2H6) has 0, Acetic acid (C2H4O2) has 2, and Propanol (C3H8O) has 1 oxygen atom.
Consider the specific structures of the molecules where oxygen is involved. Acetic acid not only has two oxygen atoms, but also includes a carboxyl group (COOH), which is highly polar.
Assess the overall molecular structure and hydrogen bonding capabilities. Acetic acid, with its carboxyl group, can form strong hydrogen bonds, indicating strong polarity in the bonds.
Conclude that acetic acid (C2H4O2) would likely have the largest number of polar covalent bonds due to the presence of two oxygen atoms and the highly polar carboxyl group.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Polar Covalent Bonds

Polar covalent bonds occur when two atoms share electrons unequally due to differences in their electronegativities. This results in a partial positive charge on one atom and a partial negative charge on the other, creating a dipole. Molecules with polar covalent bonds often have functional groups like -OH (hydroxyl) or -COOH (carboxyl), which influence their chemical properties and interactions.
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Molecular Structure and Functional Groups

The molecular structure of a compound, including its functional groups, plays a crucial role in determining the presence and number of polar covalent bonds. Functional groups such as alcohols (-OH) and carboxylic acids (-COOH) are known to introduce polar characteristics to molecules, affecting their solubility and reactivity. Understanding these structures helps predict the behavior of different compounds.
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Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a bond. Atoms with high electronegativity, like oxygen, tend to form polar covalent bonds with less electronegative atoms, such as carbon or hydrogen. By analyzing the electronegativity of the atoms in the given molecular formulas, one can predict which molecules will have more polar covalent bonds.
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