Question

$4 \times 10$ ctrostatics

(MH-CET 2022) Which of the following molecules is a polar molecule ?

MHT-CET

• A. Oxygen $(O_2)$
• B. Hydrogen $(H_2)$
• C. Carbon dioxide $(CO_2)$
• D. Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)

Answer 2

For a molecule to be polar, there must be an uneven distribution of electron density resulting in a net dipole moment.

• O₂ and H₂: Diatomic molecules with identical atoms, hence non-polar.

• CO₂: A linear molecule where the bond dipoles cancel out due to symmetry, hence non-polar.

• HCl: A diatomic molecule with different atoms; chlorine is more electronegative than hydrogen, creating a dipole.