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Predict whether each of the following molecules is polar or nonpolar: (a) CCl4 (b)NH3 (C)SF4 (d) XeF4 (e) CH3Br (f) GaH3

User Foxer
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(a) CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride): Nonpolar. It is composed of nonpolar C-Cl bonds and has a symmetrical shape.

(b) NH3 (ammonia): Polar. It has an unequal distribution of charges due to the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom.

(c) SF4 (sulfur tetrafluoride): Polar. The sulfur atom has a higher electronegativity than the fluorine atoms, creating polar S-F bonds.

(d) XeF4 (xenon tetrafluoride): Nonpolar. The xenon and fluorine atoms have similar electronegativities, resulting in nonpolar bonds. The molecule also has a symmetrical tetrahedral shape.

(e) CH3Br (methyl bromide): Nonpolar. The polar C-Br bond is surrounded symmetrically by nonpolar C-H bonds. The effects cancel out, resulting in a nonpolar molecule.

(f) GaH3 (gallium trihydride): Nonpolar. The gallium and hydrogen atoms have similar electronegativities, creating nonpolar Ga-H bonds. The molecule also has a symmetrical trigonal planar shape.

User Chris Amelinckx
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