Polar

and Non Polar Molecules Worksheet #1 Name: KEY

1. CIRCLE the molecular geometries below that would be asymmetrical if all X’s are the same
element.

2. Determine if the molecules listed below are polar or non-polar. To be polar, a molecule
must:
• Have polar-covalent bonds AND
• Be asymmetrical

Oxygen gas, O2
3.44 3.44 0 Nonpolar bond
Electronegativities: O ____ O ____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
Lewis Dot Structure e domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?
-

O O Linear Linear Nonpolar molecule

Nitrogen Gas, N2
3.04 3.04 0 Nonpolar bond
Electronegativities: N ____ N ____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
Lewis Dot Structure e- domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?

N N Linear Linear Nonpolar molecule

H2CS
2.55 2.58 0.03 Nonpolar bond
Electronegativities: C ____ S ____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
Lewis Dot Structure e- domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?
S
Trigonal Planar Trigonal Planar Nonpolar molecule*
C

H H *The EN difference for a CH bond is 0.14, so those are also nonpolar bonds
Ammonium Ion, NH4+
3.04 2.1 Polar bond
Electronegativities: N ____ H ____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
0.94
Lewis Dot Structure e- domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?
H

N Tetrahedral Tetrahedral Nonpolar molecule*

H H
H
*The molecule symmetry results in a net dipole of zero.
 Water
2.1 3.44 1.34 Polar bond
Electronegativities: H ____ O ____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
Lewis Dot Structure e domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?
-

O Bent
Tetrahedral Polar molecule
H H

Ammonia, NH3
0.94 Polar bond
Electronegativities: N ____ H_____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
3.04 2.1
Lewis Dot Structure e domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?
-

Tetrahedral Trigonal Pyramidal Polar molecule
H N
H
H

Carbon tetrachloride, CCl4

2.55 3.16 0.61 Polar bond
Electronegativities: C ____ Cl ____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
Lewis Dot Structure e- domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?
Cl

Tetrahedral Tetrahedral Nonpolar molecule

C
Cl Cl
Cl

Boron trichloride, BCl3 (boron is small; does not have to follow octet rule)
2.04 3.16 1.12 Polar bond
Electronegativities: B ____ Cl____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
Lewis Dot Structure e- domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?
Cl
Trigonal Planar Trigonal Planar Nonpolar molecule
B
Cl Cl

Sulfur dichloride, SCl2
2.58 3.16 0.58 Polar bond
Electronegativities: S ____ Cl ____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
Lewis Dot Structure e- domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?

Tetrahedral Bent
S Polar molecule
Cl Cl

Oxygen gas, O2 Repeat!

3.44 3.44 0 Nonpolar bond
Electronegativities: O ____ O ____ Difference _______ Polar or non polar bond? ______________________
Lewis Dot Structure e- domain geometry Molecular geometry Polar or NonPolar Molecule?

Linear Linear Nonpolar molecule
O O

What if one of the Os was replaced by a C? Would it be polar?