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Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
Chapter 8, Problem 89b

Although I3- is a known ion, F3- is not. (b) One of your classmates says that F3- does not exist because F is too electronegative to make bonds with another atom. Give an example that proves your classmate is wrong.

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Key Concepts

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

Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond. Fluorine is the most electronegative element, which means it strongly attracts electrons. However, high electronegativity does not preclude the formation of bonds; rather, it influences the type of bonds formed, such as covalent or ionic.
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Covalent Bonding

Covalent bonding occurs when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons to achieve stability. Even highly electronegative elements like fluorine can form covalent bonds with other atoms under certain conditions. For example, in the case of F<sub>2</sub>, two fluorine atoms share electrons, demonstrating that electronegativity does not prevent bond formation.
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Polyatomic Ions

Polyatomic ions are ions composed of two or more atoms that are covalently bonded together and carry a net charge. The existence of polyatomic ions like I<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> shows that groups of atoms can bond and carry a charge, regardless of the individual electronegativities of the atoms involved. This indicates that F<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> could theoretically exist as a polyatomic ion.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

A major challenge in implementing the 'hydrogen economy' is finding a safe, lightweight, and compact way of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel. The hydrides of light metals are attractive for hydrogen storage because they can store a high weight percentage of hydrogen in a small volume. For example, NaAlH4 can release 5.6% of its mass as H2 upon decomposing to NaH(s), Al(s), and H2(g). NaAlH4 possesses both covalent bonds, which hold polyatomic anions together, and ionic bonds. (b) Which element in NaAlH4 is the most electronegative? Which one is the least electronegative? Which element in NaAlH4 is the least electronegative?

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Textbook Question

A major challenge in implementing the 'hydrogen economy' is finding a safe, lightweight, and compact way of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel. The hydrides of light metals are attractive for hydrogen storage because they can store a high weight percentage of hydrogen in a small volume. For example, NaAlH4 can release 5.6% of its mass as H2 upon decomposing to NaH(s), Al(s), and H2(g). NaAlH4 possesses both covalent bonds, which hold polyatomic anions together, and ionic bonds. (c) Based on electronegativity differences, predict the identity of the polyatomic anion. Draw a Lewis structure for this ion.

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Textbook Question

A major challenge in implementing the 'hydrogen economy' is finding a safe, lightweight, and compact way of storing hydrogen for use as a fuel. The hydrides of light metals are attractive for hydrogen storage because they can store a high weight percentage of hydrogen in a small volume. For example, NaAlH4 can release 5.6% of its mass as H2 upon decomposing to NaH(s), Al(s), and H2(g). NaAlH4 possesses both covalent bonds, which hold polyatomic anions together, and ionic bonds. (d) What is the formal charge on hydrogen in the polyatomic ion?

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Textbook Question

Although I3- is a known ion, F3- is not. (c) Another classmate says F3- does not exist because it would violate the octet rule. Is this classmate possibly correct?

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Textbook Question

Calculate the formal charge on the indicated atom in each of the following molecules or ions: (a) the central oxygen atom in O3 (b) phosphorus in PF6- (c) nitrogen in NO2 (d) iodine in ICl3 (e) chlorine in HClO4 (hydrogen is bonded to O).

Textbook Question

The hypochlorite ion, ClO-, is the active ingredient in bleach. The perchlorate ion, ClO4-, is a main component of rocket propellants. Draw Lewis structures for both ions. (b) What is the formal charge of Cl in the perchlorate ion, assuming the Cl—O bonds are all single bonds?

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