In Covalent and Dative Bonding, we learnt that a covalent bond is a shared pair of electrons. The outer electron orbitals of two atoms overlap and the electrons form a pair, known as a bonding pair. In a molecule such as the bonding pair is found halfway between each of the chlorine atoms. But in hydrochloric acid, , the electrons are not shared evenly between the two atoms. In fact they are found nearer the chlorine atom. Because electrons are negative, this makes the chlorine atom partially negatively charged. We can represent this using the symbol δ. Likewise, the hydrogen atom is now slightly electron-deficient, so it is partially positively-charged. We say that the chlorine-hydrogen bond is polar.
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Jetzt kostenlos anmeldenIn Covalent and Dative Bonding, we learnt that a covalent bond is a shared pair of electrons. The outer electron orbitals of two atoms overlap and the electrons form a pair, known as a bonding pair. In a molecule such as the bonding pair is found halfway between each of the chlorine atoms. But in hydrochloric acid, , the electrons are not shared evenly between the two atoms. In fact they are found nearer the chlorine atom. Because electrons are negative, this makes the chlorine atom partially negatively charged. We can represent this using the symbol δ. Likewise, the hydrogen atom is now slightly electron-deficient, so it is partially positively-charged. We say that the chlorine-hydrogen bond is polar.
A polar bond is a covalent bond where the electrons forming the bond are unevenly distributed. We can say that it has an uneven charge distribution.
The bond has what is known as a dipole moment.
A dipole moment is a measurement of the separation of charges in a molecule.
A bond’s polarity is determined by the electronegativity of its two atoms.
Electronegativity is an atom’s ability to attract a bonding pair of electrons.
Electronegativity is symbolised as χ. An element with a high electronegativity is really good at attracting a bonding pair, whilst an element with a low electronegativity isn’t as great.
When two atoms with different electronegativities covalently bond, they form a polar bond. Imagine you are having a tug of war with your friend. Tied around the middle of the rope is a red ribbon, and this represents the bonding pair of electrons. You and your friend both pull on the rope as hard as you can. If you are both as strong as each other, the red ribbon won’t move and neither of you will win the tug of war. However, if you are much stronger than your friend, you will gradually be able to pull the rope towards you, moving the red ribbon closer. The bonding electrons are now nearer to you than your friend. We can say that you have a greater electronegativity than your friend.
This is what happens when two atoms with differing electronegativity bond. The atom with the higher electronegativity attracts the bonding pair of electrons towards itself and away from the other atom. The bond is now polar. The element with the higher electronegativity is partially negatively-charged, whilst the other element is partially positively-charged.
We measure electronegativity using the Pauling scale. Linus Pauling was an American chemist famous for his work on the theory of the atomic bond, and for helping found the fields of molecular biology and quantum chemistry. He is also one of only two people, the other being Marie Curie, to have won two separate Nobel prizes in two different fields (he won his for Peace as well as Chemistry). Aged just 31, he invented the Pauling scale as a way of comparing the electronegativities of different elements. It runs from 0 to 4 and uses hydrogen as a reference point of 2.2.
If you look at the periodic table shown below, you can see that there are clear patterns in the electronegativities of the different groups and periods. But before we look at some of these trends, we need to explore factors that affect an element’s electronegativity.
At 0.70, francium is the least electronegative element, whilst fluorine is the most electronegative.
Study tip: Note that electronegativity has no unit.
As we’ve just learnt, electronegativity is an atom’s ability to attract a bonding pair of electrons. Three factors affect an element’s electronegativity, and they all involve the strength of the attraction between the atom’s nucleus and the bonding pair. Remember that differences in electronegativity cause bond polarity.
An atom with more protons in its nucleus has a higher nuclear charge. This means it will attract any bonding electrons more strongly than an atom with a lower nuclear charge, and so has a greater electronegativity. Imagine you are using a magnet to pick up iron filings. If you replace your magnet with a stronger one, it will pick up the filings much more easily than the weaker magnet.
The nucleus of an atom with a large atomic radius is a long way away from the bonding pair of electrons in its valence shell. The attraction between them is weaker and so the atom has a lower electronegativity than an atom with a smaller radius. Using our magnet example, this is like moving the magnet further away from the filings: it won’t pick as many up.
Although atoms may have different nuclear charges, the actual charge felt by the bonding electrons could be the same. This is because the nuclear charge is shielded by inner shell electrons. If we look at fluorine and chlorine, both elements have seven electrons in their outer shell. Fluorine has two other electrons in an inner shell whereas chlorine has ten. These electrons shield the effects of two and ten protons respectively. If any of the valence electrons in either atom form a bonding pair, this bonding pair will only feel the attraction of the seven remaining unshielded protons. This is like having a stronger magnet but putting an oppositely charged object in the way. The pull of the magnet won’t be as strong. Because fluorine has a smaller atomic radius, it will have a greater electronegativity.
Now we know about factors affecting electronegativity, we can explain some of the trends in electronegativity seen in the periodic table.
Electronegativity increases across a period in the periodic table. This is because the elements have a greater nuclear charge and slightly reduced radius, but the same levels of shielding by inner electron shells.
Electronegativity decreases down a group in the periodic table. Although the elements have a greater nuclear charge, they also have more shielding and so the overall charge felt by the bonding pair of electrons is the same. But as elements further down a group have a larger atomic radius, their electronegativity is lower.
The difference in electronegativity between two atoms affects the type of bond formed between them:
You can think of it as a sliding scale. The greater the electronegativity difference between the two atoms, the more ionic the bond is.
For example, hydrogen has an electronegativity of 2.2 whilst chlorine has an electronegativity of 3. As we explored above, the chlorine atom will attract the bonding electron pair more strongly than hydrogen and become partially negatively-charged. The difference between the two atoms’ electronegativities is 3.16 - 2.20 = 0.96. This is greater than 0.4. The bond is therefore a polar covalent bond.
If we look at methane, we see something different. Methane consists of a carbon atom joined to four hydrogen atoms by single covalent bonds. Although there is a slight difference in electronegativities between the two elements, we say that the bond is non-polar. This is because the difference in electronegativity is less than 0.4. The difference is so small that it is insignificant. There is no dipole and methane is therefore a non-polar molecule.
Polar bonds tend to cause polar molecules. However, you can also get non-polar molecules with polar bonds if the molecule is symmetrical. Take tetrachloromethane, , for example. It is structurally similar to methane but the carbon atom is joined to four chlorine atoms instead of hydrogen. The C-Cl bond is polar and has a dipole moment. We would therefore expect the whole molecule to be polar. However, because the molecule is a symmetrical tetrahedral, the dipole moments act in opposite directions and cancel each other out. (You can find out more about dipoles in Intermolecular Forces.)
Polarity is a separation of charge, leading to one part of a bond or molecule becoming positively charged and the other negatively charged. In covalent bonds, this is because the two atoms have different electronegativities. One of the atoms attracts the bonding pair of electrons towards itself more strongly than the other atom and becomes partially negative. The other atom is left partially positive. A polar bond creates what is known as a dipole moment. Molecules with dipole moments become polar molecules, provided the dipoles do not cancel each other out.
A polar solvent is a solvent that has polar bonds, resulting in dipole moments. This is because two atoms in a bond have differing electronegativities and become partially charged. We use polar solvents to dissolve other polar or ionic compounds.
Polarity determines how a molecule interacts with other molecules. For example, polar molecules will only dissolve in polar solvents, and this can be useful when separating mixtures. Polar bonds are also subject to attack by nucleophiles and electrophile due to their higher charge density, whereas nonpolar bonds are not. This increases the reactivity of the bond. Polarity also determines the intermolecular forces between molecules.
You can use the difference in two atoms’ electronegativities to check for polarity. A difference greater than 0.40 on the Pauling scale results in a polar bond.
You can't change chemical polarity. Polarity is caused by electronegativity, a fundamental property of atoms.
What is a polar bond?
A covalent bond that has an uneven charge distribution.
What causes a polar bond?
A polar bond is caused by differing electronegativities between the two atoms involved. The atom with the higher electronegativity will attract the bonding pair of electrons more strongly and become partially negatively charged, whilst the other atom becomes partially positively charged.
What scale do we use to measure electronegativity?
The Pauling scale.
Which element has the highest electronegativity?
Fluorine
What symbol is used to represent a partial charge?
Delta, δ.
State three factors that affect electronegativity.
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