Question

Simple diatomic molecules detected in interstellar space include co, cs, sio, sis, so, and no. calculate the electronegativity differences from the data given in the table below. rank these molecules in order of increasing dipole moment.

Answer 1

Since we aren't given any table, I attached a periodic table showing the electronegativities of each element. Using these values, we can move along to the solution. Take the absolute value for the difference.

CO: 3.5 - 2.5 = 1
CS: 2.5 - 2.5 = 0
SiO: 3.5 - 1.8 = 1.7
SiS: 2.5 - 1.8 = 0.7
SO: 3.5 - 2.5 = 1
NO: 3.5 - 3.0 = 0.5

The larger the difference, the greater the tendency for a dipole moment. So, the increasing order of dipole moment is: CS, NO, SiS, SO or CO, SiO.