Question

Arrange bonds in each of the following sets in order of increasing polarity.

a) H-F, H-Cl, H-Br, H-I
b) Li-F, Be-F, B-F, C-F
c) N-F, O-F, F-F, Ne-F
d) Na-F, Mg-F, Al-F, Si-F

Answer 1

In each set, the polarity of the bonds increases as you move from the least polar bond to the most polar bond.

Step-by-step explanation:

a) The polarity of a bond is determined by the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms involved in the bond. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electron density towards itself. Fluorine (F) is the most electronegative element, so the H-F bond is the most polar in set a. The polarity increases as you move from H-F to H-Cl to H-Br to H-I.

b) Just like in set a, the electronegativity follows the same pattern for set b. The Li-F bond is the most polar, followed by the Be-F bond, then the B-F bond, and finally the C-F bond.

c) In this set, the F-F bond is nonpolar because it involves two atoms of the same element. The polarity increases as you move from N-F to O-F to Ne-F.

d) Similar to the previous sets, the Na-F bond is the least polar in set d, followed by the Mg-F bond, then the Al-F bond, and the Si-F bond is the most polar bond in this set.