An SCl2 molecule has (polar or nonpolar) bonds and a ___(bent, linear, tetrahedral, trigonal planar, trigonal pyramidal) molecular shape. As a result, an SCl2 molecule is __.(polar or nonpolar)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
An SCl₂ molecule has polar bonds and a bent molecular shape. As a result, an SCl₂ molecule is polar.
Explanation:
Sulfur dichloride (SCl₂) consists of one sulfur atom bonded to two chlorine atoms. To understand its molecular polarity, we analyze both the nature of the bonds and the geometry of the molecule.
1. Bond Polarity:
Each S–Cl bond is polar due to the difference in electronegativity between sulfur and chlorine. Chlorine is more electronegative (approximately 3.16) than sulfur (about 2.58), which means the shared electrons in each bond are pulled more toward the chlorine atoms. This unequal sharing results in a dipole moment pointing from sulfur to each chlorine.
2. Molecular Shape:
To determine the molecular shape, we use the VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory. Sulfur has six valence electrons. Two of these electrons are used to form bonds with the two chlorine atoms, leaving two lone pairs on the sulfur. This gives a total of four electron domains (two bonding pairs and two lone pairs), which corresponds to a tetrahedral electron geometry. However, the presence of lone pairs alters the visible molecular shape from tetrahedral to bent, similar to the shape of a water molecule (H₂O).
3. Molecular Polarity:
Because the molecule is bent and the polar bonds are not arranged symmetrically, their dipoles do not cancel out. Instead, the net dipole moment points toward the region between the two chlorine atoms. This asymmetry makes the overall molecule polar.
Conclusion:
The SCl₂ molecule contains polar bonds and has a bent shape, leading to a net dipole moment. Therefore, the molecule itself is polar. This polarity affects the molecule’s physical properties, such as boiling point, solubility, and intermolecular interactions.
