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Ch.11 - Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces
All textbooksTro 4th EditionCh.11 - Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular ForcesProblem 51c
Chapter 11, Problem 51c

Determine whether each molecule is polar or nonpolar. c. BrCl5

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Identify the molecular geometry of BrCl5 using VSEPR theory. Since bromine (Br) is the central atom with five chlorine (Cl) atoms and one lone pair, the molecular geometry is square pyramidal.
Analyze the electronegativity of the atoms involved. Chlorine is more electronegative than bromine, creating polar bonds between each Br and Cl.
Consider the molecular geometry to determine if the polarities of the bonds cancel out. In a square pyramidal shape, the symmetry is not enough to cancel out the dipole moments of the polar Br-Cl bonds.
Conclude that due to the presence of polar bonds and a molecular geometry that does not allow for symmetry to cancel these dipoles, BrCl5 is a polar molecule.
Understand that the overall polarity of a molecule affects its physical properties such as boiling point, solubility, and interactions with other molecules.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. The shape of a molecule is determined by the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons around the central atom, which influences the distribution of charge and ultimately the polarity of the molecule.
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Polarity

Polarity in chemistry describes the distribution of electrical charge over the atoms in a molecule. A molecule is polar if it has a significant difference in electronegativity between its atoms, leading to a dipole moment, while nonpolar molecules have an even distribution of charge, often due to symmetrical arrangements.
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Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons within a bond. In determining molecular polarity, the difference in electronegativity between bonded atoms helps predict whether the bond will be polar or nonpolar, influencing the overall polarity of the molecule.
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