Answer:
Question 1. Nonpolar covalent
Question 2. The fluorine atom is able to attract the shared electrons more strongly than a hydrogen atom
Question 3. True
Explanation:
Question 1
First of all, oxygen is a molecular compound, as it consists of non-metal atoms only (oxygen). This means we wouldn't expect to have any ionic bonding in it, as it doesn't contain a metal ion. A molecular compound has covalent bonding.
Whenever a diatomic molecule contains the same two atoms bonded by a bond, we expect to have a non-polar bond. This is due to the fact that the two atoms are identical and have the same values of electronegativity, meaning the difference in their electronegativity values is 0 and we have no net polarity within the bond.
For a bond between two different atoms, the molecule would be polar, as one atom would have a greater electronegativity (electron withdrawing force) compared to the other atom.
Question 2
Based on the principles of polarity, whenever we have a diatomic molecule, it's only non-polar when the two atoms are the same. In case of HF, we have two different atoms: hydrogen and fluorine. Since the two atoms are not identical, the molecule would be polar overall, as fluorine is more electronegative than hydrogen. Simply speaking, it means that fluorine attracts the shared electrons within the H-F bond stronger than hydrogen does. This makes a difference in electronegativity values between H and F non-zero and an overall polar bond.
Question 3
We may recall the Coulombic force equation. It states that the attraction force is directly proportional to the charge and inversely proportional to the square of a distance between the two charges.
A bond formed between two atoms or ions is the closest distance the two species can approach each other. Intermolecular forces, in contrast, are the forces that atoms experience within a distance greater than the bond length. We may conclude that for a greater distance, the Coulombic force is lower and, hence, the strength of intermolecular forces are significantly lower compared to covalent or ionic bonds.
