Question

Both of the sulfur-chlorine single bonds in SCl2..... (small subscripts) are polar. In which direction should the polarity arrows point?

ANSWER:

a. to the right
b. to the left
c. toward the central sulfur atom
d. away from the central sulfur atom


hint: The negative pole of a polar bond is always the more electronegative element.

Answer 1

The polarity arrows in SCl2 should point away from the central sulfur atom toward each of the more electronegative chlorine atoms, indicating that the chlorines have a partial negative charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the direction of polarity arrows for the bonds in SCl2, we must consider the electronegativity of the atoms involved. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electron pairs towards itself in a bond. Chlorine (XCl=3.16) is more electronegative than sulfur (XS slightly less), meaning that in the S-Cl bonds, electrons will be more strongly attracted toward the chlorine atoms. Since the chlorine atoms are more electronegative, they will have a partial negative charge, and the sulfur atom will have a partial positive charge.

Therefore, the polarity arrows must point toward the chlorine atoms, indicating that the electrons are being drawn away from the sulfur atom. Each S-Cl bond will have its own polarity arrow pointing in the direction from sulfur to chlorine, signifying the direction of greater electron density. As a result, the correct answer is (d) away from the central sulfur atom, highlighting that the chlorines, being more electronegative, are the negative pole of the bond.