is polar or nonpolar. Do not draw double bonds to oxygen atoms unless they are needed for the central atom to obey the octet rule. Do not include formal charges in your drawing. XeO3 polar nonpolar
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The molecule XeO₃ (xenon trioxide) is polar.
Explanation:
- Molecular Structure:
- Xenon (Xe) is the central atom in XeO₃, surrounded by three oxygen atoms.
- Xenon, being a noble gas, can expand its valence shell beyond the octet to accommodate more electrons. It can form more bonds, allowing it to bond with three oxygen atoms.
- The general structure of XeO₃ is a trigonal pyramidal shape, where xenon is at the apex, and the three oxygen atoms are positioned around it.
- Electronegativity Difference:
- Oxygen is much more electronegative than xenon. This creates a situation where the oxygen atoms pull electron density towards themselves, creating partial negative charges on the oxygen atoms and a partial positive charge on the xenon atom.
- Symmetry:
- The trigonal pyramidal shape of XeO₃ does not allow the dipoles to cancel out. In a trigonal planar arrangement, the dipoles might cancel due to symmetry, but the pyramid shape leads to a net dipole moment, meaning the molecule is polar.
- Polarity of Bonds:
- The O–Xe bonds are polar because oxygen is more electronegative than xenon. However, due to the asymmetrical geometry, the vector sum of the bond dipoles does not cancel out, leading to an overall dipole moment for the molecule.
In conclusion, XeO₃ is polar due to its asymmetrical trigonal pyramidal shape, which causes the dipoles from the O–Xe bonds to combine and create a net dipole moment, making the molecule polar.