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Ch.11 - Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, VSEPR & MO Theory
Chapter 11, Problem 49

Determine whether each molecule in Exercise 35 is polar or nonpolar.
a. CI4
b. NCl3
c. OF2
d. H2S

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Key Concepts

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

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. The shape of a molecule is determined by the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons around the central atom, which can influence the distribution of charge and ultimately the polarity of the molecule.
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Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond. Differences in electronegativity between bonded atoms can lead to polar covalent bonds, where electrons are shared unequally, resulting in partial positive and negative charges that contribute to the overall polarity of the molecule.
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Dipole Moment

A dipole moment is a vector quantity that represents the separation of positive and negative charges in a molecule. It is influenced by both the electronegativity of the atoms and the molecular geometry. A molecule is considered polar if it has a net dipole moment, indicating an uneven distribution of electron density.
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