Question

Determine if these molecules and ion are polar.

Answer 1

Answer:

a. Polar

b. Polar

c. Non-polar

d. Non-polar

Explanation:

a. $H_3O^+$, hydronium cation contains a positive charge. Just as any other ion, it is polar, as it has a net charge.

b. $H_2S$ has the same shape as water. There are two lone pairs on sulfur atom which produce an overall dipole moment in this molecule, the bent structure is polar.

c. $PCl_5$ is non-polar, as the central atom, phosphorus, doesn't contain any lone pairs, all the dipole moments cancel out: two dipole moments in the vertical plane, P-Cl, and three P-Cl dipoles in the horizontal plane within a trigonal bipyramidal shape.

d. $CF_4$ is non-polar, since it's a tetrahedral molecule with no lone pairs on carbon atom, all four C-F dipole moments cancel out to yield a net 0 dipole moment.