Question

Which type of molecules have positive partial charge?

1) Polar molecules
2) Nonpolar molecules
3) Ionic molecules
4) Covalent molecules

Answer 1

Polar molecules have a positive partial charge due to the unequal sharing of electrons in polar covalent bonds. The atom with lower electronegativity in the bond will have a positive partial charge (δ+).

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of molecules that have a positive partial charge are polar molecules. A partial positive charge in polar covalent bonds is due to the unequal sharing of electrons between atoms with different electronegativities. One atom, with a lower electronegativity, will have a deficiency of electrons and acquire a slight positive charge, symbolized as δ+. To determine which side of a polar bond has the partial positive charge, look for the atom with the lower electronegativity - this side will be positively charged.

Polar molecules must contain at least one polar covalent bond and have a molecular structure where the vector sum of the bond dipole moments does not cancel out. In contrast, nonpolar molecules have an equal sharing of electrons or symmetrical geometry where dipole moments cancel each other, resulting in no partial positive charge. Water (H2O) is an example of a molecule with polar covalent bonds, where the hydrogen atoms have a partial positive charge, and oxygen atoms have a partial negative charge. Due to its linear shape, carbon dioxide (CO2) has polar bonds, but the molecule itself is nonpolar because the partial charges cancel out.