1. Draw the Lewis structure. 2. Show how the bond dipole moments (and those of any nonbonding pairs of electrons) contribute to the molecular dipole moment. 3. Estimate whether the compound will have a large, small, or zero dipole moment. d. CH3F e. CF4 f. CH3OH
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Step 1: Draw the Lewis structure for each molecule. For CH3F, carbon (C) is the central atom bonded to three hydrogen (H) atoms and one fluorine (F) atom. For CF4, carbon is the central atom bonded to four fluorine atoms. For CH3OH, carbon is bonded to three hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group (OH).
Step 2: Identify the bond dipole moments. In CH3F, the C-F bond is polar due to the high electronegativity of fluorine, creating a dipole moment pointing towards F. In CF4, each C-F bond is polar, but the symmetrical tetrahedral shape causes the dipoles to cancel out. In CH3OH, the C-O and O-H bonds are polar, with dipoles pointing towards the more electronegative oxygen.
Step 3: Consider the contribution of nonbonding electron pairs. In CH3F, the lone pairs on fluorine contribute to the dipole moment. In CF4, the symmetry means lone pairs do not contribute to a net dipole moment. In CH3OH, the lone pairs on oxygen contribute to the overall dipole moment.
Step 4: Analyze the molecular geometry to determine the net dipole moment. CH3F has a tetrahedral shape with a net dipole moment due to the C-F bond. CF4 is also tetrahedral but has no net dipole moment due to symmetry. CH3OH has a bent shape around the oxygen, leading to a net dipole moment.
Step 5: Estimate the dipole moment. CH3F is expected to have a moderate dipole moment due to the polar C-F bond. CF4 is expected to have a zero dipole moment due to its symmetrical shape. CH3OH is expected to have a large dipole moment due to the polar C-O and O-H bonds and the bent shape around the oxygen.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Lewis Structures
Lewis structures are diagrams that represent the bonding between atoms of a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist. They are essential for visualizing the arrangement of atoms, the distribution of electrons, and the connectivity within a molecule, which is crucial for predicting molecular geometry and reactivity.
Bond dipole moments occur due to differences in electronegativity between bonded atoms, resulting in a partial positive charge on one atom and a partial negative charge on the other. These dipoles are vector quantities, having both magnitude and direction, and they contribute to the overall molecular dipole moment, influencing the molecule's polarity.
The molecular dipole moment is the vector sum of all individual bond dipoles and lone pair contributions within a molecule. It determines the overall polarity of the molecule, affecting properties like solubility and boiling point. A molecule with symmetrical geometry may have a zero dipole moment if the bond dipoles cancel each other out.