Chemistry 115 Lecture Note outlinesBetween the Extremes: Electronegativity and Bond Polarity

Set 22

Between the extremesElectronegativity and Bond Polarity

Extreme 1 covalent bonding
results from equal sharing of electron pair(s) between bonding atoms
atoms are held close to each other so that they can share e pairs
formation of discrete individual molecules

Extreme 2 ionic bonding

results from a transfer of electron(s) from one atom to another
mutual attraction of oppositely charged ions hold ions in 3-dimensional glob of ions

Between the extremes a polar covalent bond

the shared electron pair is not shared equally, but remains closer
to one atom than the other

Cl-

Na+

Unequal sharing of electrons causes the more electronegative

atom of the bond to be partially negative and the less
electronegative atom to be partially positive
Br

Reality the bonding between atoms in most compounds lie

somewhere along the continuum between the extremes of pure
covalent to pure ionic

Cl

Positive End
Positive End

Cl-

Cl-

Polar covalent bonds are much more common than either pure
ionic or pure covalent bonds

Fall 2014 (Ratcliff)

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Page 1 of 3

Chemistry 115 Lecture Note outlinesBetween the Extremes: Electronegativity and Bond Polarity

Set 22

Electronegativity the ability of an atom in a covalent bond to attract the shared electron pair
the most electronegative element is fluorine
In general electronegativity decreases down a group as atomic size increases
In general electronegativity increases across a period as atomic size decreases
Note noble gases (8A) are missing from the general electronegativity trend shown below
F

Depicting Polar Bonds

The unequal sharing of es can be depicted by a polar arrow. The head of the atom points to the
more electronegative atom

A polar bond can also be depicted by using the + and

and symbols. The more enegative
atom is assigned the charge
EN ranges for classifying the partial ionic character of bonds
Exact range varies from textbook to
textbook
Range shown here is from
Silberberg (6th)

-Range from 1.7 to 2.1

Fall 2014 (Ratcliff)

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Chemistry 115 Lecture Note outlinesBetween the Extremes: Electronegativity and Bond Polarity

Set 22

Ionic Compound Vs. Covalent Compound

Concept Check
Compound A is a solid with a melting point of 125 C, and compound B is a gas at 25 C and one
atmosphere pressure. Based on these data, one would expect
a. both compounds to be covalent.
b. compound A to be ionic and compound B to be covalent
c. compound A to be covalent and compound B to be ionic
d. both compounds to be ionic

Concept Check
The electronegativity is 2.1 for H and 1.8 for Si. Based on these electronegativities, SiH4 would be
expected to
a. be ionic
b. have non polar covalent bonds
c. have polar covalent bonds with a partial negative charges on the H atoms
d. have polar covalent bonds with a partial positive charges on the H atoms.

Rank the following bonds in order of increasing polarity: HN, HO, HC

The EN values are: N = 3.0, H = 2.1; O = 3.5; C = 2.5

Fall 2014 (Ratcliff)

To learn, read. To know, write. To master, teach.

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