Question

In the hydrogen chloride molecule HCl, the chlorine end of the molecule is more negative than the hydrogen end because_____.

A) Chlorine has more protons than hydrogen.
B) Chlorine is larger in size than hydrogen.
C) Chlorine is more electronegative than hydrogen.
D) Chlorine has fewer electrons than hydrogen

Answer 1

The chlorine end of the HCl molecule has a partial negative charge because chlorine is more electronegative than hydrogen, which causes an uneven distribution of electron density in the H-Cl bond.

Step-by-step explanation:

The chlorine end of the hydrogen chloride molecule (HCl) is more negative than the hydrogen end because C) Chlorine is more electronegative than hydrogen. Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons, and chlorine has a higher electronegativity than hydrogen. This means that in the H-Cl bond, the electrons tend to be closer to the chlorine atom, leading to an uneven distribution of electron density. This imbalance results in a buildup of a partial negative charge on the chlorine and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen, making the bond polar.