Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electronegativity
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond. Fluorine (F) is the most electronegative element, meaning it strongly attracts electrons compared to chlorine (Cl). However, electronegativity alone does not determine the overall dipole moment of a molecule, as the molecular geometry and bond angles also play significant roles.
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Dipole Moment
The dipole moment is a vector quantity that measures the separation of positive and negative charges in a molecule. It is influenced by both the electronegativity of the atoms involved and the geometry of the molecule. A higher dipole moment indicates a greater polarity, which can arise from the arrangement of bonds and the overall shape of the molecule, not just the electronegativity of individual atoms.
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Molecular Geometry
Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. In the case of CH3Cl and CH3F, the spatial arrangement of the hydrogen and halogen atoms affects how the dipole moments of the individual bonds combine. The tetrahedral shape of both molecules leads to different resultant dipole moments, with CH3Cl having a greater overall dipole moment due to the specific orientation and bond angles.
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