Visayas Christian Institute of Technology Inc.

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

PHYSICAL SCIENCE 12
Quarter 1, Week 3

Determine if a Molecule is Polar or Non-Polar given its Structure

(S11/12PS-IIIC-15)

General Reminders:
1. Please handle this learning activity sheet (LAS) with care.
2. Use attached answer sheet in writing your answers.
3. Follow IATF Health Protocols when returning and or getting LAS.

Explore

Direction: Identify the key term referred in each statement. Write your answer on
a separate sheet of paper.
__________1. A bond between molecules which electrons are equally shared.
__________2. A type of bond that exists when two bonded atoms are not equally
bonded, one atom is partially positive and the other is partially
negative.
__________3. A bond formed between two identical atoms with relatively close
electronegativity values
__________4. It is a result of uneven distribution of charges of atoms in a molecule.
__________5. It is the ability of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons.

Learn
The bond polarity is a result of combining atoms of element having different
electronegativity values. If we have more complex molecules, it may deal with
molecular polarities which is the result of the total of all individual bond
polarities. The covalent bond is formed when two identical atoms evenly shared
their electrons.
This can be classified into two: non-polar covalent bond and polar covalent bond.
When the two atoms having similar electronegativity will share electrons equally.
This bond is referred as non-polar covalent bond. On the other hand, when two
bonded atoms are not equally distributed the electrons, one atom is more
electronegative than the other atom, this bond is polarized, meaning one atom is
partially positive and the other atom is partially negative. This type of bond is
polar covalent bond.

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What is the game being shown in the pictures? Have you tried playing this game
with
your friends or classmates? Can you describe each team? Who is the team going to

A B

win?
In picture A, the two princesses are pulling the prince toward to them. It shows
that the prince is equally shared to the princesses. In covalent bond, it would be
classified as non-polar since the bonding electrons are evenly shared.

In picture B, it clearly shows that unbalanced number of persons in each side. Let
us say that the 2 persons is hydrogen (H) and the 7 persons is fluorine (F), the
electrons of two bonded atoms will not share equally. This bond is called polar. In
this case, it will form HF, fluorine is more electronegative than H. F attracts
bonding electron pair closer to itself then it will become polarized. As a result, F
end is partially negative and the atom of hydrogen becomes partially positive.

Molecular Polarity
The two bonding atoms with different electronegativity values will result to have a
bond polarity. When molecules become more complex will result to have a
molecular polarity. The molecular polarity refers to the total of the bond polarity
of bonded molecules. In this case, first we must have to determine if a molecule is
a polar or non-polar. A non-polar molecule is symmetric. If a molecule is
symmetric meaning all electrons are equally shared or bonded. For instance,
methane has a chemical formula of (CH4). It is a tetrahedral molecule and an
example of non-polar bond.
CH4 is a non-polar
Total no. of Ve- = 4 + 1(4) = 8

4 is the Ve- for C

4 is the total Ve- for H (H has 1 Ve- since there are 4 atoms of H
therefore, the total Ve- for H is 4)

8–8=0
8 is the total Ve-
8 is the total electrons bonded (4 H are bonded with 2 electrons
each)
0 means all electrons are bonded Bond angles of methane (CH4)

The polar molecule is asymmetric, meaning the distribution of electrons in a

covalent bond is not equal. It also contains lone pairs of electrons on the central

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atom or atom is bonded with different electronegativity values. Polarity is a result
of uneven distribution of charges of atoms in a molecule.
Covalent bond produces partial charges either partial positive ( +) and partial
negative ( -) among atoms is called polar covalent bond. An arrow ( ) indicates
direction of shared electrons are pulled. For example, ammonia (NH 3) is a polar
bond and has a molecular shape of trigonal
pyramidal.

Lone pair
NH3 is a polar

Total no. of Ve- = 5 + 1(3) = 8

5 is the Ve- for N
3 is the total Ve for H (H has 1 Ve- since, there are 3 atoms
-

of H therefore, the total Ve- for H is 3)

8-6=2
Bond angles of ammonia (NH3) 8 is the total Ve-
6 is the total electrons bonded (3 H are bonded with 2
electrons each)
2 is the lone pair
Hydrobromic acid (HBr) is a polar, since bromine (Br) has electronegativity value
of
2.8 while hydrogen has 2.1 electronegativity value. Hence, Br is more
electronegative than H. Therefore, the arrow is directed to Br.

H---Br

+ -

The diatomic molecules such as Br2, O2, N2 and H2 are all non-polar. No atoms are
more electronegative than the other, the bonding electrons are evenly distributed.
The polar bond and non-polar bond can also be determined through
electronegativity difference between molecules. The electronegativity difference
can be calculated by getting the electronegativity value of the given molecules in
the periodic table of elements.
Type of Bond Value of Electronegativity Difference
Non-polar 0-0.4
Polar Less than 1.7
Ionic 1.7 or more

EXAMPLES:

Electronegativity Electronegativity
Molecule Type of Bond
Value Difference
O= 3.5
O2 0 Non-polar
O=3.5
H= 2.1
HCl 0.9 Polar
Cl= 3.0
Na= 0.9 Cl=
NaCl 2.1 Ionic
3.0
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 1. In polar bond, there is an unequal sharing of electrons between and
among atoms.
2. In non-polar bond, there is an equal sharing of electrons between and
among atoms.
3. The electronegativity is the ability of an atom in a molecule to attract
electrons. As electronegativity increases, the attraction of the atom for
electrons increases.
4. The polarity is a result of uneven distribution of charges of atoms in a
molecule.
5. The non-bonding electrons are called lone pairs. The bonded electrons are
called bonding pairs.
6. In chemistry this symbol has a meaning of: -, partially negative and +,
partially positive.

Engage
Activity 1
Direction: Determine the type of bond exists between the paired elements. Use a
separate sheet of paper for your solution and answer.
1. N (3.0) and H (2.1)
2. H (2.1) and H (2.1)
3. Ca (1.0) and Cl (3.0)
4. C (2.5) and S (2.5)
5. Mg (1.2) and O (3.5)
6. H (2.1) and F (4.0)
7. H (2.1) and Cl (3.0)
8. P (2.1) and s (2.5)
9. S (2.5) and O (3.5)
10. Cl (3.0) and Cl (3.0)
Activity 2
Direction: Determine whether polar or non-polar the following paired atoms.
Then, arrange the following bonds in order of increasing polarity. Use a separate
paper for your solution and answer.
1. C-O
2. P-S
3. C-S
4. Cl-Br
5. Br-F
Activity 3
Direction: Using the periodic table of elements, give and arrange the increasing
electronegativity value of each element. Use another sheet of paper for your
answer.
1. F 6. H
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2. Cl 7. S
3. K 8. Na
4. Li 9. B
5. Si 10. Sc

Apply
Directions: Multiple Choice. Read and analyze each question. Write the letter
that corresponds to your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following paired atoms is non-polar?

a. Br-F c. H-F
b. H-Cl d. H-P
2. Which of the following bonds has the highest polarity?
a. O-H c. N-H
b. C-H d. C-O
3. Which of the following bonds has the lowest polarity?
a. N-H c. C-H
b. C-O d. O-H
4. Which of the following is the correct decreasing electronegativity values?
a. F, O, N, C c. As, Se, Br, F
b. Cl, S, Si, P d. H, Si, P, S
5. Which molecule has an ionic bond?
a. H-F c. F-F
b. Na-F d. Cl-F
6. Which best describe the shape and polarity of CH4?
a. Tetrahedral polar c. Tetrahedral non-polar
b. Linear non-polar d. Linear polar
7. Which statement is true about the non-polar molecules?
a. They are symmetric. c. They have lone pair on the central atom
b. They are asymmetric. d. They have charges
8. If a molecule has this symbol -, it means_______.
a. Negative c. Positive
b. Neutral d. Cancel out
9. If a molecule has this symbol +, it means_______.
a. Charge c. Negative
b. Positive d. Neutral
10. If a molecule has value of 1.6 electronegativity difference, this molecule is
best described as________.
a. Ionic c. Non-Polar
b. Polar d. Covalent

References
Chang, R. Chemistry 8th Edition. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of
the Americas, New York, NY 10029, 2005.

Prepared by:

RUEL L. RINCONADA
Teacher
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Checked and Reviewed by:

EVELINA T. AUSTERO Ma, Ed.

School Principal

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