Question

All four of the silicon-chlorine single bonds in sicl4 are polar. in which direction should the polarity arrows point?

Answer 1

The direction of polarity arrow should be from Si atom to Cl atom.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cl atom has higher electronegativity than Si atom.

Therefore the bonding electron between Si and Cl atom will be polarized and become more concentrated towards Cl atom. Because Cl atom pulls bonding electrons towards itself more due to it's higher electronegativity.

Hence Cl atom gets a partial negative charge and Si atom gets a partial positive charge.

The polarity arrows are generally pointed from positively charged center to negatively charged center.

So, the direction of polarity arrow should be from Si atom to Cl atom.

Please find the picture below.

Answer 2

In SiCl₄, the silicon-chlorine single bonds are polar.

Silicon is enveloped with four chlorine atoms. Chlorine is more electronegative in comparison to silicon. As chlorine exhibits more electronegativity, it fascinates bonding electrons towards it. Therefore, the direction of the polarity arrows should point away from the central silicon atom.