achieve question 17 determining polarity

[Lia 2I]

Is there a way to determine if BCl3 is polar or nonpolar without using the molecular structure as justification?

[506477319]

Hi, I don't think there really is a way to determine the polarity without taking into account the structure, since although B and Cl doesn't have the exact same electronegativity, it wouldn't matter because Cl is symmetrically bonded around B and therefore the symmetric shape cancels all the potential polarity in the B-Cl bonds.