Final answer:
To determine if a molecule is polar or nonpolar, follow these steps: draw the Lewis structure, figure out the molecular geometry, visualize or draw the geometry, and find the net dipole moment.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if a molecule is polar or nonpolar, you need to follow a few steps:
- Draw the Lewis structure of the molecule.
- Figure out the molecular geometry using VSEPR theory.
- Visualize or draw the geometry.
- Find the net dipole moment. If the net dipole moment is zero, the molecule is non-polar. If it is not zero, the molecule is polar.
In the case of CH3SH, the Lewis structure is H-C-H, with an S bonded to the central C atom. The geometry of the molecule is pyramidal, with the S atom at the top and the H atoms forming a triangular base. The S atom has higher electronegativity than the C and H atoms, so the S-H bond will be polar. Taking into account the molecular geometry, CH3SH is a polar molecule.