Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 10: Problem 14

What is the relationship between the dipole moment and bond moment? How is it possible for a molecule to have bond moments and yet be nonpolar?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The dipole moment is the resultant of all the bond moments in a particular direction and depends on the bond length and the bond angle. A molecule can have bond moments but still be nonpolar when the bond dipoles are arranged in such a way that they counterbalance each other resulting in a net dipole moment of zero.

Step by step solution

01

Understand The Dipole Moment

A dipole moment is a measure of the polarity of a molecule. It is calculated as the product of the charge's magnitude times the distance between the centers of the positive and negative charges. Mathematically, \( \mu = q \times d \), where \( \mu \) is the dipole moment, \( q \) is the charge, and \( d \) is the distance between charges.
02

Understand The Bond Moment

Bond moment, also known as bond dipole moment, involves two atoms connected by a bond. This arises due to the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms. The atom with higher electronegativity attracts the shared pair of electron which induces polarity in the bond.
03

Explaining The Relationship between Dipole Moment and Bond Moment

In a molecule, the resultant of all bond moments in a particular direction is considered the dipole moment. It is the vector sum of all individual bond moments considering their direction and magnitude, and also depends on the molecular structure. To calculate the dipole moment, the bond length, the bond angle, and the individual bond dipole moments should be known. If all of these are given, we can find the net dipole moment by using vector addition.
04

Explain How a Molecule Can Have Bond Moments and Yet Be Nonpolar

Even though a molecule contains polar bonds, it can still be nonpolar if the dipole moments of the bonds cancel each other out due to molecular symmetry. In nonpolar molecules, the bond dipoles are arranged in such a way that they orient in opposite directions and result in a net dipole moment of zero. For instance, in carbon dioxide (CO2), though the C=O bonds are polar, the molecule is linear and the dipole moments from each side cancel each other, making the molecule nonpolar.

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

Consider the reaction $$ \mathrm{BF}_{3}+\mathrm{NH}_{3} \longrightarrow \mathrm{F}_{3} \mathrm{~B}-\mathrm{NH}_{3} $$ Describe the changes in hybridization (if any) of the \(B\) and \(N\) atoms as a result of this reaction

What hybrid orbitals are used by nitrogen atoms in these species? (a) \(\mathrm{NH}_{3},\) (b) \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{~N}-\mathrm{NH}_{2}\) (c) \(\mathrm{NO}_{3}^{-}\)

Predict the geometries of these species: (a) \(\mathrm{AlCl}_{3}\) (b) \(\mathrm{ZnCl}_{2},\) (c) \(\mathrm{ZnCl}_{4}^{2-}\)

Which of these species is not likely to have a tetrahedral shape (a) \(\operatorname{SiBr}_{4}\) (b) \(\mathrm{NF}_{4}^{+},(\mathrm {c}) \mathrm{SF}_{4}\) (d) \(\mathrm{BeCl}_{4}^{2-}\) (e) \(\mathrm{BF}_{4}^{-},\) (f) \(\mathrm{AlCl}_{4}^{-}\)

Describe the bonding scheme of the \(\mathrm{AsH}_{3}\) molecule in terms of hybridization.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

The Earths Atmosphere

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