Question

Which of the following terms would accurately describe the molecule below?

1) Ionic and polar
2) Nonpolar and covalent
3) Polar and covalent
4) Nonpolar and ionic

Answer 1

To describe a molecule's bonds as ionic, polar covalent, or nonpolar covalent, one must consider electronegativity differences. S and Cl, and P and O form polar covalent bonds, while Cs and O likely form an ionic bond.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine whether the molecule in question is ionic or covalent, and whether it is polar or nonpolar, we need to consider the electronegativity difference between the bonded atoms. A nonpolar covalent bond occurs when this difference is less than 0.5. A polar covalent bond forms when the difference is between 0.5 to 1.9, and an ionic bond is likely when the difference is more than 1.9.

For the examples given:

• S and Cl would form a polar covalent bond, as they have a moderate difference in electronegativity but it is not large enough to be considered ionic.
• P and O would also form a polar covalent bond because oxygen is more electronegative than phosphorus, leading to a polar bond.
• Cs and O are likely to form an ionic bond, as cesium is a metal with a low electronegativity and oxygen is a nonmetal with a high electronegativity, resulting in a large difference that typically indicates an ionic bond.