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A covalent bond is likely to be polar when _____.

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A covalent bond is likely to be polar when _____.

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Solution

A covalent bond is likely to be polar when there is a significant difference in electronegativity between the two atoms involved in the bond.

Explanation of Polarity in Covalent Bonds:

  1. Electronegativity Difference: Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. When two atoms have differing electronegativities, the shared electrons will spend more time closer to the more electronegative atom, resulting in a partial negative charge (δ-) on that atom and a partial positive charge (δ+) on the less electronegative atom.

  2. Criteria for Polarity: Generally, if the difference in electronegativity is greater than 0.4 (but less than 1.7), the bond is considered polar. If the difference exceeds 1.7, the bond is typically ionic rather than covalent.

  3. Molecular Geometry: Additionally, the overall polarity of a molecule can be influenced by its geometry. Even if a molecule has polar bonds, its shape can lead to a cancellation of dipole moments, resulting in a nonpolar molecule overall.

In summary, the polar character of a covalent bond is determined primarily by the differences in electronegativity between the bonded atoms and their spatial arrangement in the molecule.

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