Name:___________________________________________ Period _______ Date _______________________

Predict Polarity With Electronegativity Differences

Most bonds have a combination of ionic and covalent character. The type of bond is determined by the electronegativity
difference (subtraction) of the two elements. Once that difference is known, it can be used to predict the type of bond
formed by the following number line that graphs the electronegativity difference:

Electronegativity
Difference → 0 2.0

Type of pure (between 0 and 2.0) (2.0 or greater)*

Bond → (nonpolar) polar covalent ionic
covalent

(* The textbook says that a difference above 1.7 is ionic. We will divide it at 2.0. Again, you have to look at the types of
atoms involved. )

Directions: Fill in the following chart, using the electronegativities of the elements in each suggested pair.
Electronegativity Electronegativity
Elements Bond Type
Element 1 Element 2 Difference

Mg to Cl magnesium chlorine 1.8 ionic

H to O hydrogen oxygen 1.4 polar

C to Cl carbon chlorine 0.5 polar

N to H nitrogen hydrogen 0.9 polar

C to S carbon sulfur 0 nonpolar

K to F potassium fluorine 3.2 ionic

Na to Cl sodium chlorine 2.1 ionic

H to H hydrogen hydrogen 0 nonpolar

Name:___________________________________________ Period _______ Date _______________________

Electronegativity differences can be used to compare chemical bonds. Which bond is more ionic? Which bond is more
covalent? Which bond is more polar? The answers to these questions can be found by comparing the electronegativity
differences of the bonds to be compared. The bond with the highest difference means certain things and the bond with the
least difference means other things. The results are summarized in this table:
Electronegativity Difference

Lowest Difference Greatest Difference

decreasing ionic character increasing ionic character
increasing covalent character decreasing covalent character
decreasing polarity increasing polarity
most sharing of electrons least sharing of electrons
.
Circle the bond that is/has the:
a. least covalent character: C—O Na—B S—F

b. most non polar Cs—N Cl—Cl K—C

c. least polar Si—S Na—P Rb—Se

Polar Covalent Bonds

nonpolar polar
polar ionic

5. How do the shared electrons spend their time in a polar covalent bond?
They are slightly more attracted to the more electronegative atom.

6. Describe the charge distribution in a molecule that contains a polar bond.

Since the electrons are closer to a certain atom, the electrons give that atom a slightly more negative charge and make the other
atom slightly positive.
7. What determines which end of a polar molecule has a slight negative charge?
The end that is more electronegative will have a slight negative charge.