Solveeit Logo

Question

Question: What does electronegativity have to do with bond polarity?...

What does electronegativity have to do with bond polarity?

Explanation

Solution

Hint : We know that the bond polarity depends on the electronegativity difference between the two atoms involved and only on that difference we can categorize the bond as polar, non-polar or ionic. Atoms that are high in EN tend to take electrons and atoms low in EN tends to give up electrons.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
First of let’s discuss what bond polarity is. By the term bond polarity, we mean the separation of the charges i.e. the positive and the negative charges along the chemical bond. And the separation of positive and the negative charges results in the formation of the electric dipole or simply we can say the dipole moment.
The electrons in a chemical bond are not equally shared by the two atoms involved. The atom which is more electronegative pulls the electrons towards it and acquires partial negative charge and the less electropositive atom acquires the partial positive charge. Now, on the basis of the bond polarity, bonds are of two types: - polar bonds and nonpolar bonds. When the difference e of the electronegativity between the atoms lies in the range 1.721.7-2 then the bond is said to be polar in nature.
Electronegativity is the measure of the ability of an atom to attract electrons to it. Fluorine is the most electronegative element and francium is one of the least electronegative. So, higher electronegativity helps atoms take more control over shared electrons creating partial negative regions and partial positive regions which result in dipoles that cause polarity. The molecule's polarity will be determined on the negative and positive regions on the outer atoms in the molecule.

Note :
Remember that both the polar and nonpolar bonds come under the category of the covalent bonds. But if the electronegativity difference between the atoms is more than two, then in that case the bonds are said to be ionic in nature.