Question #d4c10

1 Answer
Mar 7, 2017

The order is "NaCl" > "NH"_3 > "NF"_3 > "He".

Explanation:

The most common intermolecular forces in pure substances are, in decreasing order of strength:

"Ion-ion > dipole-dipole > London dispersion"

We get an idea of the strengths the forces by looking at the bond electronegativity differences ΔEN and the molecular geometries.

bb"NaCl"

For "NaCl", ΔEN = |3.16 - 0.93| = 2.23.

ΔEN >1.6, so the bond is ionic.

The strongest intermolecular forces are ion-ion attractions, so "NaCl" is first in the list.

"He"

Helium is a noble gas. It does not form ionic or covalent bonds.

The only intermolecular forces in helium are London dispersion forces.

Helium is last in the list.

bb"NH"_3 and bb"NF"_3

Both "NH_3" and "NF"_3# have a trigonal pyramidal geometry (the yellow ball represents a lone pair".

upload.wikimedia.orgupload.wikimedia.org

For "NH"_3, ΔEN = |3.04 - 2.20| = 0.84.

For "NF"_3, ΔEN = |3.04 - 3.98| = 0.94.

Thus, we would predict the compounds to have about the same polarities, with "NF"_3 perhaps being slightly more polar.

However, "NH"_3 is much more polar than "NF"_3.

The reason is that the lone pair itself contributes a dipole to the molecule.

img1.mnimgs.comimg1.mnimgs.com

In "NH"_3 the bond dipoles reinforce that of the lone pair, while in "NF"_3 the bond dipoles oppose it.

Thus, "NF"_3 is less polar than "NH"_3.

The order of polarity for all the compounds is

"NaCl" > "NH"_3 > "NF"_3 > "He".