Polar molecules
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Polar molecules
Can someone explain to me why NF3 is a polar molecule? Is it because the lone pair on the central atom distorts the shape of what would have been a tetrahedral, making the molecule asymmetrical?
Last edited by Michelle Nwufo 2G on Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Polar molecules
Not sure if you mean NF3, but if so it is because the dipoles do not cancel each other due to the lone pair giving the shape of trigonal pyramidal. So, the N-F polar bonds make the whole molecule polar.
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Re: Polar molecules
If there is a lone pair, there will likely be a net dipole pointing in the opposite direction. In general, if a molecule has lone pairs, it is likely to be polar.
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Re: Polar molecules
Your explanation is basically right. The lone pair also has a strong negative charge, and there's nothing at the opposite side to cancel it out, making the molecule polar.
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Re: Polar molecules
NF4 would be polar due to the lone pair of electrons around the central atom, N.
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