Question

Which carbon atom has the most partial positive character?

Answer 1

The carbon atom bonded to oxygen with a double bond has the most partial positive character due to oxygen's higher electronegativity.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine which carbon atom has the most partial positive character, we must consider the nature of bonds and the electronegativity of the atoms involved. Carbon-to-oxygen double bonds are known to be quite polar due to the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen. In such a bond, oxygen, being more electronegative, will draw the bonding electrons closer to itself, thus imparting a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom, and a corresponding partial positive charge on the carbon atom.

Considering different molecular scenarios where these principles apply, such as in HC1, the hydrogen atom acquires a partial positive charge due to chlorine's higher electronegativity. Similarly, in molecules where oxygen is bonded to hydrogen, the oxygen atoms exhibit a partial negative charge, making the hydrogen atoms partially positive. As for sulfur, atoms that are more electronegative than it will cause the sulfur to have a positive partial charge.

In conclusion, the carbon atom bearing the double bond to the more electronegative oxygen atom will have the greatest partial positive character. The stronger the difference in electronegativity between the bonded atoms, the more pronounced the partial charges will be.

Answer 2

A carbon atom would have a partial positive character if it is bonded with a much more electronegative element. The periodic trend for electronegativity is increasing as you go from right to left, and decreasing as you go down a group. Thus, a more electronegative element than carbon would either be nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine. Hence, bonds involving CN, CO and CF would have a partial positive character for carbon.