- #1
Whalstib
- 119
- 0
Hi,
1st year chem guy here...I'm missing this idea. Is it all based upon Electronegativity?
I can see why HBr or HCl and other 2 atom compounds would be polar. 2 atoms with different charges or even sizes creating an un-even pull.
I'm guessing H2O is polar as the 4 remaining electrons on the oxygen molecule create an imbalance.
I'm guessing CO2 is non polar because the O=C=O balances perfectly negating/balancing the charges...
But if you throw CCl4 at me I can find a definition that it is non-polar but couldn't show the math etc to explain it...
Our textbook explains it thusly:
"the greater the electronegativity difference, the more polar." And I understand the Pauling scale how differences determine either ionic or covalent
But HBr for instance has an electronegativity difference of 0.7 and is polar, yet CO2 difference is 0.5 and is non polar. That's pretty close. Wait a sec...is it because the CO2 molecule is balanced with one O on either side? Would CO be considered polar as it is just 2 atoms?
Could I assume ALL 2 atom compounds (ionic or molecular) are polar!?
Thanks,
Warren
1st year chem guy here...I'm missing this idea. Is it all based upon Electronegativity?
I can see why HBr or HCl and other 2 atom compounds would be polar. 2 atoms with different charges or even sizes creating an un-even pull.
I'm guessing H2O is polar as the 4 remaining electrons on the oxygen molecule create an imbalance.
I'm guessing CO2 is non polar because the O=C=O balances perfectly negating/balancing the charges...
But if you throw CCl4 at me I can find a definition that it is non-polar but couldn't show the math etc to explain it...
Our textbook explains it thusly:
"the greater the electronegativity difference, the more polar." And I understand the Pauling scale how differences determine either ionic or covalent
But HBr for instance has an electronegativity difference of 0.7 and is polar, yet CO2 difference is 0.5 and is non polar. That's pretty close. Wait a sec...is it because the CO2 molecule is balanced with one O on either side? Would CO be considered polar as it is just 2 atoms?
Could I assume ALL 2 atom compounds (ionic or molecular) are polar!?
Thanks,
Warren