Question

Polar molecules have a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other side—a separation of charge called a dipole. Which of the following molecules has this kind of a dipole?

A. CH_4
B. CO_2
C. C_6H_6
D. HCl

Answer 1

HCl is the molecule with a dipole-dipole attraction due to the more electronegative chlorine atom acquiring a partial negative charge and the hydrogen a partial positive charge, making the molecule polar.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecule with a dipole-dipole attraction due to a separation of charge is hydrogen chloride, HCl. In HCl, the chlorine atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atom, resulting in chlorine bearing a partial negative charge and hydrogen bearing a partial positive charge. This separation of charges creates a permanent dipole in the molecule, where there is an attractive force between the positively charged end of one HCl molecule and the negatively charged end of another, giving rise to dipole-dipole interactions.