Question Details

Number of non polar molecules given following. H2O, SO2, BF3, H2, CHCl3

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Correct Answer :

2

Solution :

The correct answer is 2.

To determine the number of non-polar molecules from the given list, we need to analyze their molecular geometry and net dipole moment (μ). A molecule is non-polar if its individual bond dipoles cancel each other out, resulting in a net dipole moment of zero (μ=0). If there is a net separation of charge, the molecule is polar (μ0).

Let's examine each molecule step-by-step:

1. H2O (Water):
Water has a bent molecular geometry due to the presence of two lone pairs on the central oxygen atom. The individual polar O-H bond dipoles reinforce each other rather than canceling, leading to a net dipole moment:
μ0
Therefore, H2O is a polar molecule.

2. SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide):
Sulfur dioxide has a bent geometry due to the presence of one lone pair on the sulfur atom. The polar S-O bonds are angled and their dipoles do not cancel out:
μ0
Therefore, SO2 is a polar molecule.

3. BF3 (Boron Trifluoride):
Boron trifluoride has a symmetrical trigonal planar geometry. The three highly polar B-F bonds are oriented at 120° angles to each other in a single plane. Because of this perfect symmetry, the vector sum of the three bond dipoles cancels out completely:
μ=0
Therefore, BF3 is a non-polar molecule.

4. H2 (Hydrogen gas):
Hydrogen is a homonuclear diatomic molecule. Since both hydrogen atoms have identical electronegativities, there is no unequal sharing of electrons and no bond dipole:
μ=0
Therefore, H2 is a non-polar molecule.

5. CHCl3 (Chloroform):
Chloroform has a tetrahedral geometry, but it is asymmetrical because it contains one C-H bond and three C-Cl bonds. The highly electronegative chlorine atoms pull electron density away from the carbon, and these dipoles do not cancel out, resulting in a net dipole moment:
μ0
Therefore, CHCl3 is a polar molecule.

Conclusion:
Among the given molecules, BF3 and H2 are non-polar. Thus, the number of non-polar molecules is 2.

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