Chapter 10, Problem 125A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: To explain how you can use electronegativity values to classify a bond as non-polar covalent, polar covalent, and ionic compounds.

Concept Introduction: An atom's or functional group's propensity to draw electrons to itself is known as electronegativity, which is a chemical property. An atom's electronegativity is influenced by both its atomic number and the separation of its valence electrons from its charged nuclei.

Answer to Problem 125A

A non-polar covalent bond is created when two atoms possess an electronegativity variation of less than 0.4. A polar covalent bond is created when two atoms exhibit an electronegativity difference of between 0.4 and 1.8. Ionic bonds are created when two atoms exhibit electronegativity differences of greater than 1.8.

Explanation of Solution

For nonpolar covalent,

Between two nonmetals with little to no difference in their electronegativity, nonpolar covalent bonds can be formed. The difference in electronegativity values from the table presented in the first section must be less than 0.4 in order to qualify for this classification.

Although there are no hard and fast standards, the general rule is that a bond is termed nonpolar if the difference in electronegativities is less than or equal to 0.4, and polar if the difference is greater.

For polar covalent,

The more electronegative atom is the one with the partial negative charge because electrons in a polar covalent bond are shifted toward it. The electron distribution will be more polarised and the atoms' partial charges will be larger the greater the difference in electronegativity.

Before the link is classified as a polar covalent bond as opposed to a nonpolar covalent bond, the electronegativity difference typically needs to be at least 0.5. the link between bond polarity and the electronegativity differential (EN) of bound atoms.

For Ionic,

The bond is regarded as ionic if the difference in electronegativity between the two bound atoms is larger than 2.1. There is a significant imbalance in the electric charge because one atom pulls the electrons of the other atom so effectively toward itself.

If the electronegativity of the two atoms differs by enough to allow one to totally draw an electron away from the other, the connection is ionic. Compounds that mix elements from the left-hand side of the periodic table frequently encounter such circumstances (sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.)