15. Although both CO2 and H2O are triatomic molecules, the shape of H2O molecule is bent while that of CO2 is linear. Explain this on the basis of dipole moment.
Answer:
According to experimental results, the dipole moment of carbon dioxide is zero. This is possible only if the molecule is linear so that the dipole moments of C–O bonds are equal and opposite to nullify each other.
Resultant µ = 0 D
H2O, on the other hand, has a dipole moment value of 1.84 D (though it is a triatomic molecule as CO2). The value of the dipole moment suggests that the structure of H2O molecule is bent where the dipole moment of O–H bonds are unequal.
16. Write the significance/applications of dipole moment.
Answer:
In heteronuclear molecules, polarization arises due to a difference in the electronegativities of the constituents of atoms. As a result, one end of the molecule acquires a positive charge while the other end becomes negative. Hence, a molecule is said to possess a dipole.
The product of the magnitude of the charge and the distance between the centres of positive-negative charges is called the dipole moment (µ) of the molecule. It is a vector quantity and is represented by an arrow with its tail at the positive centre and head pointing towards a negative centre.
Dipole moment (µ) = charge (Q) × distance of separation (r)
The SI unit of a dipole moment is ‘esu’.
1 esu = 3.335 × 10–30 cm
Dipole moment is the measure of the polarity of a bond. It is used to differentiate between polar and non-polar bonds since all non-polar molecules (e.g. H2, O2) have zero dipole moments. It is also helpful in calculating the percentage ionic character of a molecule.
17. Define electronegativity. How does it differ from electron gain enthalpy?
Answer:
Electronegativity is the ability of an atom in a chemical compound to attract a bond pair of electrons towards itself.
Electronegativity of any given element is not constant. It varies according to the element to which it is bound. It is not a measurable quantity. It is only a relative number.
On the other hand, electron gain enthalpy is the enthalpy change that takes place when an electron is added to a neutral gaseous atom to form an anion. It can be negative or positive depending upon whether the electron is added or removed. An element has a constant value of the electron gain enthalpy that can be measured experimentally.
18. Explain with the help of suitable example polar covalent bond.
Answer:
When two dissimilar atoms having different electronegativities combine to form a covalent bond, the bond pair of electrons is not shared equally. The bond pair shifts towards the nucleus of the atom having greater electronegativity. As a result, electron distribution gets distorted and the electron cloud is displaced towards the electronegative atom.
As a result, the electronegative atom becomes slightly negatively charged while the other atom becomes slightly positively charged. Thus, opposite poles are developed in the molecule and this type of a bond is called a polar covalent bond.
HCl, for example, contains a polar covalent bond. Chlorine atom is more electronegative than hydrogen atom. Hence, the bond pair lies towards chlorine and therefore, it acquires a partial negative charge.
19. Arrange the bonds in order of increasing ionic character in the molecules: LiF, K2O, N2, SO2 and ClF3.
Answer:
The ionic character in a molecule is dependent upon the electronegativity difference between the constituting atoms. The greater the difference, the greater will be the ionic character of the molecule.
On this basis, the order of increasing ionic character in the given molecules is
N2 < SO2 < ClF3 < K2O < LiF.
20. The skeletal structure of CH3COOH as shown below is correct, but some of the bonds are shown incorrectly. Write the correct Lewis structure for acetic acid.
Answer:
The correct Lewis structure for acetic acid is as follows:
21. Apart from tetrahedral geometry, another possible geometry for CH4 is square planar with the four H atoms at the corners of the square and the C atom at its centre. Explain why CH4 is not square planar?
Answer:
Electronic configuration of carbon atom:
6C: 1s2 2s2 2p2
In the excited state, the orbital picture of carbon can be represented as:
Hence, carbon atom undergoes sp3 hybridization in CH4 molecule and takes a tetrahedral shape.
For a square planar shape, the hybridization of the central atom has to be dsp2 . However, an atom of carbon does not have d-orbitalsto undergo dsp2 hybridization. Hence, the structure of CH4 cannot be square planar.
Moreover, with a bond angle of 90° in square planar, the stability of CH4 will be very less because of the repulsion existing between the bond pairs. Hence, VSEPR theory also supports a tetrahedral structure for CH4.
22. Explain why BeH2 molecule has a zero dipole moment although the Be–H bonds are polar.
Answer:
The Lewis structure for BeH2 is as follows:
H : Be : H
There is no lone pair at the central atom (Be) and there are two bond pairs. Hence, BeH2 is of the type AB2. It has a linear structure.
Dipole moments of each H–Be bond are equal and are in opposite directions. Therefore, they nullify each other. Hence, BeH2 molecule has zero dipole moment.
23. Which out of NH3 and NF3 has higher dipole moment and why?
Answer:
In both molecules i.e., NH3 and NF3, the central atom (N) has a lone pair electron and there are three bond pairs. Hence, both molecules have a pyramidal shape. Since fluorine is more electronegative than hydrogen, it is expected that the net dipole moment of NF3 is greater than NH3. However, the net dipole moment of NH3 (1.46 D) is greater than that of NF3 (0.24 D).
This can be explained on the basis of the directions of the dipole moments of each individual bond in NF3 and NH3. These directions can be shown as:
Thus, the resultant moment of the N–H bonds add up to the bond moment of the lone pair (the two being in the same direction), whereas that of the three N – F bonds partly cancels the moment of the lone pair.
Hence, the net dipole moment of NF3 is less than that of NH3.