Choose the compound below that contains at least one polar covalent bond, but is nonpolar.

Choose the compound below that contains at least one polar covalent bond, but is nonpolar.

SCl2
CH2Cl2
AsCl5
GeH2Br2
All of the above are nonpolar and contain a polar covalent bond.

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

The correct answer is: AsCl₅ (Arsenic pentachloride)

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Explanation

To answer this question, we must evaluate each compound for two criteria:

1. Presence of polar covalent bonds: These occur between atoms with different electronegativities.
2. Overall molecular polarity: A molecule is nonpolar if the bond dipoles cancel out due to its symmetrical geometry.

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1. SCl₂ (Sulfur dichloride)

• Polar bonds: Yes, due to difference in electronegativity between S and Cl.
• Molecular shape: Bent (due to two lone pairs on S).
• Net dipole: Yes.
  Result: Polar molecule.

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2. CH₂Cl₂ (Dichloromethane)

• Polar bonds: Yes, especially C–Cl bonds.
• Molecular shape: Tetrahedral, but asymmetrical.
• Net dipole: Yes.
  Result: Polar molecule.

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3. AsCl₅ (Arsenic pentachloride)

• Polar bonds: Yes, As–Cl bonds are polar.
• Molecular shape: Trigonal bipyramidal (symmetrical).
• Net dipole: No; the individual bond dipoles cancel out.
  Result: Nonpolar molecule with polar bonds
• 
  ✅ Correct Answer

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4. GeH₂Br₂ (Germanium dibromide)

• Polar bonds: Yes (Ge–Br especially).
• Molecular shape: Tetrahedral but asymmetrical if the Br and H are not symmetrically arranged.
• Net dipole: Yes.
  Result: Polar molecule.

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Conclusion:

All the compounds contain polar covalent bonds, but only AsCl₅ is nonpolar overall due to its symmetrical geometry that allows dipole cancellation. The others have asymmetrical shapes leading to molecular polarity. Thus, the compound that satisfies both criteria (having at least one polar covalent bond and being nonpolar) is AsCl₅.