Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 25: Problem 4

Recall that the electronegativity of \(\mathrm{C}\) and \(\mathrm{H}\) are roughly the same, but that \(\mathrm{O}\) has a significantly higher electronegativity. For each type of compound (alkane, ketone, alcohol) predict whether or not the compound is expected to be polar or nonpolar.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Alkanes are nonpolar, whereas ketones and alcohols are both polar.

Step by step solution

01

Identify Polarity in Alkane

Alkanes consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Since the electronegativity of carbon and hydrogen is roughly the same, the bonding electrons are equally shared between them, causing the bond to be nonpolar. Moreover, alkanes have a symmetric molecular structure which doesn't allow a buildup of charges on any side, affirming that alkanes are nonpolar.
02

Identify Polarity in Ketone

Ketones have a carbonyl functional group which involves a carbon-oxygen double bond. Oxygen is significantly more electronegative than carbon, so the electrons in these bonds are not equally shared - they are pulled more towards the oxygen atom, making the bond polar. Overall, the presence of the carbonyl group makes the entire molecule polar.
03

Identify Polarity in Alcohol

Alcohols have a hydroxy functional group. This is a bond between an oxygen and a hydrogen atom - there is a big difference in electronegativity between these two, leading to a polar bond. Therefore, alcohols are polar molecules.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

For each type of compound below, indicate how the boiling point changes as the molecular weight of the compound increases: a) alkane b) ketone c) alcohol

Individually, provide the Lewis structure for 1 -propanol and then predict which bond will be the shortest and what the \(\mathrm{C}-\mathrm{O}-\mathrm{H}\) bond angle will be. When all team members are done, compare answers and reach consensus.

Find an alkane, a ketone, and an alcohol with roughly the same MW (within \(5 \mathrm{~g} / \mathrm{mole}\) ). Rank these compounds in terms of relative boiling points.

Is the strength of intermolecular forces determined by the bond strengths within the individual molecules? Explain your reasoning.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Kinetics

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free