Final answer:
F2 is nonpolar because it involves a nonpolar covalent bond where two identical fluorine atoms share electrons equally, and there is no net dipole moment. This equal sharing is due to identical electronegativity values, and the symmetric distribution of lone pairs of electrons does not affect the nonpolarity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The diatomic fluorine molecule, F2, is nonpolar because the bond formed is a nonpolar covalent bond. This occurs because both fluorine atoms are the same and they equally attract the electrons in the bond. Each fluorine atom has the same electronegativity, which means they have the same ability to attract the shared pair of electrons, resulting in an equal sharing of these electrons. Because of this, there is no net dipole moment in the molecule, and it remains nonpolar.
Furthermore, each fluorine in F2 has three lone pairs of electrons in addition to the single shared pair in the bond. These lone pairs contribute to the octet of each atom but do not alter the nonpolar nature of F2 because they are evenly distributed around each fluorine atom. The overall electron density around the molecule is symmetrically distributed, ensuring the molecule remains nonpolar. This concept is similar for other diatomic molecules comprised of the same element, such as O2 and N2, where electron distribution is also equal between the atoms.