Question

Which one of the following molecules will have a dipole moment?

A) CO2
B) CH4
C) NH3
D) O2

Answer 1

The molecule with a dipole moment is NH3 (Option C). CO2, CH4, and O2 do not have dipole moments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecule with a dipole moment is NH3 (Option C).

To determine if a molecule has a dipole moment, we need to consider the individual bond dipole moments and how they are arranged in space. If the individual bond dipole moments cancel each other out, there is no net dipole moment. In the case of CO2 (Option A), while the C-O bonds are polar, they are arranged in a linear geometry and cancel each other out, resulting in a nonpolar molecule. Similarly, CH4 (Option B) is a tetrahedral molecule with four identical C-H bonds, which cancel each other out. O2 (Option D) is a diatomic molecule with a linear geometry and does not have a dipole moment.

In NH3, the three N-H bonds are polar, and the molecule is trigonal pyramidal. The N-H bond dipole moments do not cancel each other out due to the asymmetric arrangement of the bonds, resulting in a net dipole moment.