Question

How can electronegativity result in a polar molecule?

Answer 1

If the atoms have a certain electronegativity, then the molecule is polar.

Explanation:

The atoms that are present in a molecule must have an electronegativity difference of between 0.3 to 1.5. This results in a molecule that is polar covalent.

An example of this is the molecule hydrogen fluoride, or `HF`. The bonding pair of electrons in the molecule is pulled slightly towards one of the atoms, which results in a slightly positive charge on one of the atoms, and a slightly negative charge on the other.

This phenomenon also takes place in ammonia, `NH_3`. The nitrogen has a greater electronegativity than the hydrogen, so the bonding pair of electrons is attracted more towards the nitrogen in the molecule than the hydrogen.