NEET2004ChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureActual
H ₂ O is dipolar whereas BeF ₂ is not. It is because:
Options
- Athe electronegativity of F is greater than that of O
- BH ₂ O involves hydrogen bonding whereas BeF ₂ is a discrete molecule
- CH ₂ O is linear and BeF ₂ is angular
- DH ₂ O is angular and BeF ₂ is linear
Correct answer
D. H ₂ O is angular and BeF ₂ is linear
Step-by-step solution
Water ( H ₂ O ) is polar because of the bent shape of the molecule. The shape means most of the negative charge from the oxygen on side of the molecule and the positive charge of the hydrogen atoms is on the other side of the molecule. This is an example of polar covalent chemical bonding. However, because of linear shape, dipole moments cancel each other in BeF ₂ ( ~F ⁻ Be ⁻ F ) and thus, it is non-polar. Related Theory Commonly, the electron configuration is used to describe the orbitals of an atom in its ground