This document discusses molecular shape and polarity. It explains that a molecule's polarity depends on the presence of polar bonds and its overall shape. Polar bonds form when there is an unequal sharing of electrons between atoms. To determine a molecule's polarity, one must draw its Lewis structure, use VSEPR theory to predict its shape, determine if bonds are polar, then add bond dipoles. If dipoles cancel out, the molecule is nonpolar. If not, it is polar. Symmetry is also important - symmetrical molecules with identical bond polarities are nonpolar. Examples include the polar NH3 and nonpolar CO2 and symmetrical NF3.

1. MOLECULAR SHAPE AND
POLARITY

2. • Molecules in which the charge is not distributed
symmetrically among the atoms making up the molecule
• Polarity of molecule is dependent on the presence of polar
bonds & the shape of the molecule
WHAT ARE POLAR MOLECULES?

3. • ΔEN between 2 atoms determines the polarity of the bond –
greater the difference, the more polar the bond
BOND POLARITY

4. • Bond in which unequal sharing of electrons exists
• Electrons spend most of their time closer to one nucleus than
the other
POLAR COVALENT BONDS

5. • Polar covalent bonds are shown by using a bond dipole
(arrow indicating a ΔEN travelling from the lower (δ+
) to the
higher (δ-
) EN)
• The bond dipole is a vector, and vectors can be added (tip-to-
tail) to determine the overall polarity of a molecule
POLAR COVALENT BONDS

6. H – Cl O - H
POLAR COVALENT BOND EXAMPLES

7. A molecule may have polar bonds, but it may not
be polar
Example:
CO2 is a nonpolar molecule, but each C=O bond is
polar
DETERMINING THE POLARITY OF A MOLECULE

8. • Existence of a polar bond in a molecules does not necessarily
mean the molecule is polar (also must consider symmetry)
• Nonpolar molecule: either has nonpolar bonds or polar bonds
whose dipoles cancel to zero
• Polar molecule: has polar bonds with dipoles that do not
cancel to zero
DETERMINING THE POLARITY OF A MOLECULE

9. 1. Draw a Lewis structure
2. Use the # of electron pairs &
VSEPR to determine the
shape around each central
atom
3. Use EN differences to
determine the polarity of
each bond
4. Add the bond dipole vectors
to determine if the final
result is zero (nonpolar
molecule) or non-zero (polar
molecule)
HOW TO DETERMINE THE POLARITY OF A MOLECULE
Example: CO2
Linear
Nonpolar
ΔEN = 1.0
3.5 2.5 3.5
δ+
δ-
δ-

10. 1. Draw a Lewis structure
2. Use the # of electron pairs &
VSEPR to determine the
shape around each central
atom
3. Use EN differences to
determine the polarity of
each bond
4. Add the bond dipole vectors
to determine if the final
result is zero (nonpolar
molecule) or non-zero (polar
molecule)
HOW TO DETERMINE THE POLARITY OF A MOLECULE
Example: H2O
Angular/bent
Polar
2.12.1
3.5
ΔEN = 1.4

11. HOW TO DETERMINE THE POLARITY OF A MOLECULE
Example: H2O

12. HOW TO DETERMINE THE POLARITY OF A MOLECULE
Example: CO2 vs. H2O

13. • Can be difficult to add 3-D vectors so can use symmetry of the
molecule instead to determine its polarity
• In all symmetrical molecules, the sum of the bond dipoles is
zero & the molecule is nonpolar
SYMMETRY AND POLARITY

14. SYMMETRY AND POLARITY

15. Is the shape
symmetrical
in 3D?
The molecule
is polar.
Are all the
∆EN bond
values the
same?
The molecule
is non-polar.
NO YES
bent
trigonal pyramidal
linear
tetrahedral
NO
YES
SYMMETRY AND POLARITY
Summary

16. SYMMETRY AND POLARITY
Example of nonsymmetrical molecule

17. SYMMETRY AND POLARITY
Example of symmetrical molecule
.: non-polar

18. Example: NH3
1) Draw the Lewis structure
2) Based on the Lewis structure, draw the VSEPR
diagram
MOLECULAR SHAPE AND POLARITY

19. 3) Add the electronegativity of
the atoms and assign δ+
and δ-
to the bonds
.: NH3 is polar because it has
polar bonds
that do no cancel to zero.
4) Draw in the bond dipoles
Example: NH3
MOLECULAR SHAPE AND POLARITY

20. Example: NH3 vs. NF3
MOLECULAR SHAPE AND POLARITY

21. Homework
• Page 221 # 1 – 7
• Page 229 # 1 – 8
MOLECULAR SHAPE AND POLARITY