BOND POLARITY

H He
Electronegativity 2.1
Li Be B C N O F Ne
Power of an atom to attract the 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
two electrons in a covalent bond Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.5 3.0
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
0.8 1.0 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.9 1.6 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.4 2.8
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe
0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.9 2.2 2.2 2.2 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.1 2.5
Cs Ba La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Tl Pb Bi Po At Rn
0.7 0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.77 1.9 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.4 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2

factors that affect electronegativity what it is

trend in electronegativity explanation

down a group

across a period

Polar covalent bonds

non-polar covalent bond polar covalent bond

when the two atoms in a covalent bond have the when the two atoms in a covalent bond have a
when it happens
same electronegativity different electronegativity

covalent bond where the two electrons are covalent bond where the two electrons are not
shared equally shared equally
what it means the more electronegative atom has a greater
share of the two electrons and is δ– while the less
electronegative atom has a lower share and is δ+

δ+ δ–
example Cl–Cl bond in Cl2 HCl bond in HCl H–Cl H–Cl

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Note • Bonds that are polar have a bond dipole moment – this is a measure of the strength and direction of the
polarity in the bond. In simple terms, the bigger the difference in electronegativity, the bigger the bond dipole
moment.
• C-H bonds in organic molecules are not regarded as being polar (although there is a small difference in
electronegativity between the C and H)

Polar molecules

non-polar molecule polar molecule

contains polar bonds but all

contains polar bonds but all the dipole
description no polar bonds the dipole moments cancel
moments do not cancel out
out

CH4 CO2 H 2O
H δ– δ+ δ–
O C O O
example δ–
C δ+ H H δ+
H H
H

van der Waals’ and

intermolecular
van der Waals’ only van der Waals’ only dipole-dipole or H-bonds (depending
forces
on molecule)

Does it Is the Intermolecular forces

Molecule Sketch of shape contain polar molecule van der dipole-dipole hydrogen
bonds? polar? Waals’ (ü) (ü) bonds (ü)

PF3

CH2F2

Br2

BCl3

CF4

HCl

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