Dipole-Dipole Attraction in Molecules: Analysis of BCl3, XeF4, AsH3, and SCl3

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In summary, the question is about the dipole dipole attraction between molecules in BCl3, XeF4, AsH3, and SCl3. BCl3 is a neutral substance due to its trigonal planar shape with balanced forces. XeF4 has a tetrahedral shape with a lone pair, causing an imbalanced charge and dipole dipole attraction between molecules. AsH3 also has a tetrahedral shape with a lone pair, leading to dipole dipole attraction between molecules. However, the Lewis structure of SCl3 is unknown and it is not a stable compound, so it is difficult to determine its dipole dipole attraction. The most similar structure found is SCl4.
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yecko
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Homework Statement


8pFdEDX.png

http://i.imgur.com/8pFdEDX.png

Homework Equations


polarity of the element

The Attempt at a Solution


BCl3 is a trigonal planar which the forces would be balanced. Thus it is a neutral substance.
XeF4 is with tetrahedral shape where one side is a lone pair, which the charge is imbalanced and it has dipole dipole attraction between molecules.
However, I don't know the other two - AsH3 and SCl3, which one is with dipole dipole attraction between molecules? And why? Thank you very much!
 
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  • #2
It is about shape of these molecules - are they symmetric enough to have a zero dipole moment?
 
  • #3
A good starting point would be to draw the Lewis structures of each compound so that it's easier to figure out their geometry.
 
  • #4
OK. I found AsH3 is with tetrahedral shape where one side is a lone pair, which the charge is imbalanced and it has dipole dipole attraction between molecules.

However, i can't even draw the electron diagram of SCl3. It seems there is a non-paired electron. There also no resources on SCl3 on the Internet.
The most similar structure I found is this one, SCl4. <https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Sulfur_tetrachloride.svg >
How to draw the Lewis structures of SCl3?
Thanks
 
  • #5
I agree, SCl3 does not seem like it would be a stable compound. Can you check whether there was a typo in the question?
 

What is dipole-dipole attraction?

Dipole-dipole attraction is a type of intermolecular force that occurs between molecules with permanent dipoles. A dipole is created when there is an uneven distribution of electrons in a molecule, resulting in a positive and negative end. The positive end of one molecule will be attracted to the negative end of another molecule, creating a dipole-dipole attraction.

How is dipole-dipole attraction different from other types of intermolecular forces?

Dipole-dipole attraction is different from other types of intermolecular forces, such as London dispersion forces and hydrogen bonding, because it specifically involves the interaction between two permanent dipoles. London dispersion forces, on the other hand, occur between all molecules, regardless of their polarity, while hydrogen bonding occurs between a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom and a lone pair of electrons on another electronegative atom.

How does dipole-dipole attraction affect the physical properties of a substance?

Dipole-dipole attraction can greatly influence the physical properties of a substance. It can increase the boiling and melting points of a substance, as well as its viscosity, due to the stronger intermolecular forces between molecules. It can also affect the solubility of a substance in polar solvents, as polar molecules are more likely to dissolve in other polar substances due to dipole-dipole attractions.

Can dipole-dipole attraction occur between nonpolar molecules?

No, dipole-dipole attraction only occurs between molecules with permanent dipoles. Nonpolar molecules do not have a separation of charges, so there is no attractive force between them. However, in some cases, a nonpolar molecule can induce a temporary dipole in another nonpolar molecule, resulting in an induced dipole-dipole attraction.

How can dipole-dipole attraction be measured or observed?

Dipole-dipole attraction can be observed through various techniques, such as infrared spectroscopy, which measures the vibrations of dipole moments in a molecule. It can also be measured indirectly by analyzing the physical properties of a substance, such as its boiling or melting point, which are influenced by the strength of intermolecular forces, including dipole-dipole attraction.

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