Name: electronegativity in polar covalent bonds
Uploaded: 2025-05-22T09:05:32.000Z
Duration: 2 min 24 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Arizona Science Standards

High School

Physical Science

HS.P1

HS.P1U1.2

Polar Covalent Bonds

Nonmetals have high ionization energies, making it difficult to transfer valence electrons from one atom to another. Hence, nonmetals tend to share valence electrons between atoms, forming covalent bonds.
The shared pair of electrons in the covalent bond is called a bonding pair. Any valence electrons that do not participate in bonding are called the lone pair, or nonbonding electrons.
According to the octet rule, when certain atoms have fewer than eight electrons in their valence shell, they react to form stable compounds by achieving the configuration of the nearest noble gas.
For example, in a molecule of ammonia, nitrogen requires three more electrons to reach its nearest noble gas configuration, or an octet, whereas, hydrogen needs one more electron to reach its nearest noble gas configuration, or a duet. Thus, the nitrogen atom forms single bonds with three hydrogen atoms.
On the other hand, the carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide molecules are held together by carbon&#8211;oxygen double and triple bonds, respectively. The formation of the double and triple bonds ensures that each of the constituent atoms achieves the nearest noble gas configuration.
When covalent bonds form between two atoms of different elements, the more electronegative atom attracts the electrons more strongly, forming a polar covalent bond. The ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself is called electronegativity. The greater the difference in electronegativity, the more polar the bond will be.
The Pauling scale provides the electronegativity value for each element based on bond energy calculations. Nitrogen is more electronegative than carbon, which in turn is more electronegative than hydrogen.
Thus, in a covalent bond between carbon and nitrogen, the more electronegative nitrogen attracts the shared electrons towards itself, whereas, in a bond between carbon and hydrogen, the more electronegative carbon attracts the electron density away from the less electronegative hydrogen.

polar covalent bonds

Covalent bonds are formed between two atoms when both have similar tendencies to attract electrons to themselves (i.e., when both atoms have identical or fairly similar ionization energies and electron affinities). Nonmetal atoms frequently form covalent bonds with other nonmetal atoms. For example, the hydrogen molecule, H2, contains a covalent bond between its two hydrogen atoms. When two separate hydrogen atoms with a particular potential energy approach each other, their valence orbitals (1s) begin to overlap. The single electrons on each hydrogen atom then interact with both atomic nuclei, occupying the space around both atoms. The strong attraction of each shared electron to both nuclei stabilizes the system, and the potential energy decreases as the bond distance decreases. If the atoms continue to approach each other, the positive charges in the two nuclei begin to repel each other, and the potential energy increases. The bond length is determined by the distance at which the lowest potential energy is achieved. Whether a bond is nonpolar or polar covalent is determined by a property of the bonding atoms called electronegativity.
Electronegativity values of the elements were proposed by one of the most famous chemists of the twentieth century: Linus Pauling. Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract electrons (or electron density) towards itself. Electronegativity determines how the shared electrons are distributed between the two atoms in a bond. The more strongly an atom attracts the electrons in its bonds, the larger its electronegativity.&#160; It describes how tightly an atom attracts electrons in a bond. It is a dimensionless quantity that is calculated, not measured. Pauling derived the first electronegativity values by comparing the amounts of energy required to break different types of bonds. Electrons in a polar covalent bond are shifted toward the more electronegative atom; thus, the more electronegative atom is the one with the partial negative charge. The greater the difference in electronegativity, the more polarized the electron distribution and the larger the partial charges of the atoms.

Covalent bonds are formed between two atoms when both have similar tendencies to attract electrons to themselves (i.e., when both atoms have identical or ...

Education

JoVE Core

Organic Chemistry

Unit 1

Covalent Bonding and Structure

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

electronegativity in polar covalent bonds

Polar covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons unevenly. This happens in covalent bonds between atoms that have similar, but not identical, tendencies to attract electrons. Nonmetal atoms often make these bonds with other nonmetals. Hydrogen gas, H2, is a simple example of a covalent bond between two hydrogen atoms.

A covalent bond begins when two atoms move close enough for their valence orbitals to overlap. In hydrogen, the 1s orbitals overlap and the single electrons on each atom interact with both nuclei. The shared electrons are attracted to both nuclei, which lowers the potential energy of the system. As the atoms get closer, the bond reaches its length at the point of lowest potential energy.

If the atoms move too close, the positive nuclei begin to repel each other. That repulsion raises the potential energy. The balance between attraction and repulsion sets the bond length. This balance helps explain why covalent bonds are stable at a specific distance.

Whether a covalent bond is polar or nonpolar depends on electronegativity. Electronegativity is an atom’s tendency to attract electron density toward itself. It is a calculated, dimensionless value, not a measured one. Linus Pauling proposed the first electronegativity values by comparing the energy needed to break different bonds.

In a polar covalent bond, the shared electrons shift toward the more electronegative atom. That atom carries the partial negative charge. The other atom carries the partial positive charge. When the electronegativity difference is larger, the bond becomes more polarized and the partial charges become larger.

Electronegativity in Polar Covalent Bonds

electronegativity-in-polar-covalent-bonds

what is organic chemistry?

Carbon Compounds in Everyday Life

Organic chemistry focuses on carbon compounds called organic compounds. These compounds may come from living things or be made by chemists. Carbon is the main element in them, and it bonds with other carbon atoms as well as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Carbon can form up to four strong bonds. That ability lets carbon atoms build chains and rings of many sizes, shapes, and levels of complexity. Not every carbon-containing substance is classified as organic. Carbonates, cyanides, and...

electronic structure of atoms

Atomic Orbitals and Quantum Numbers

Atomic orbitals and quantum numbers describe how electrons are arranged around the nucleus. An atom has a small, positively charged nucleus with electrons surrounding it. The nucleus contains protons and neutrons, and the quantum mechanical model gives a better picture of this structure than older models. Protons carry a +1 charge and have a mass of 1.0073 amu. Neutrons have no charge and have a mass of 1.0087 amu. Electrons carry a −1 charge and have a mass of 0.00055 amu. The number of...

electron configurations

How Electrons Fill Atomic Orbitals

Electron filling in atoms follows a set order based on orbital energy. The Aufbau principle says each new electron enters the lowest-energy subshell available. The Pauli exclusion principle says no two electrons can share the same set of four quantum numbers. Hund’s rule of maximum multiplicity says electrons stay unpaired in equal-energy orbitals when possible. The order of filling follows the relative energies of the subshells. A common sequence is 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, and so on.

chemical bonds

Chemical Bonds: Types and Strength

Chemical bonds help atoms reach a full valence shell like the nearest noble gas. The main bond types are ionic, covalent, and metallic. Bond energy and bond length also help explain how strong a bond is. An ionic bond forms from electrostatic attraction between cations and anions. In many cases, one atom transfers electrons to another atom, and the ions form from that transfer. Ionic bonds have no defined direction because the attraction spreads evenly through three-dimensional space. A...

Polar covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons unevenly. This happens in covalent bonds between atoms that have similar, but not identical, tendencies to attract electrons. Nonmetal atoms often make these bonds with other nonmetals. Hydrogen gas, H2, is a simple example of a covalent bond between two hydrogen atoms. A covalent bond begins when two atoms move close enough for their valence orbitals to overlap. In hydrogen, the 1s orbitals overlap and the single electrons on each atom...

lewis structures and formal charges

Lewis Structures, Bonds, and Formal Charge

Lewis structures show how atoms share electrons in covalent bonds and in polyatomic ions. Lewis symbols help draw these structures, and the periodic table helps predict how many valence electrons an atom has and how many bonds it can form to reach an octet. Group 18 elements, such as argon and helium, already have filled electron configurations. They rarely take part in chemical bonding. Atoms in group 17, such as bromine and iodine, need one more electron to reach an octet, so they can form...

vsepr theory

Molecular Shapes from Electron Pairs

Molecular shape can be predicted from the way electron pairs arrange around a central atom. Valence shell electron-pair repulsion theory, or VSEPR theory, uses a Lewis structure to count bonding pairs and lone electron pairs. The main idea is simple: electron pairs spread out as far as possible to reduce repulsion. In a molecule, the valence electrons around the central atom can be bonding pairs or lone pairs. Bonding pairs are found mainly between bonded atoms. Lone pairs stay on one atom and...

molecular geometry and dipole moments

Predicting Shape and Molecular Polarity

Molecular shape and molecular polarity can be predicted with VSEPR theory and dipole moments. Start by writing the Lewis structure of the molecule or polyatomic ion. Then count the electron groups around the central atom. Lone pairs and bonds both count as electron groups, and a single, double, or triple bond each counts as one region of electron density. Use that count to identify the electron-pair geometry. Next, use the number of lone pairs to determine the molecular structure. If more than...

resonance and hybrid structures

Resonance in Nitrite and Carbonate Ions

Resonance explains why some Lewis structures do not match the measured properties of a molecule or ion. When two or more Lewis structures have the same atom arrangement, the real electron distribution is an average of the structures shown. The nitrite anion, NO2−, is one example. It can be drawn in two ways, with the N–O and N=O bonds in different places. If nitrite had one single bond and one double bond, the two bond lengths should be different, because a double bond is shorter and stronger...

valence bond theory and hybridized orbitals

valence-bond-theory-and-hybridized-orbitals

Covalent Bond Overlap and Orbital Hybridization

Covalent bonds form when orbitals on two atoms overlap and their single electrons pair up. The bond is stronger when the overlap is greater. Maximum overlap happens when the orbitals meet along a direct line between the two nuclei. A sigma bond, or σ bond, is the kind of covalent bond found in a single bond in a Lewis structure. In a σ bond, electron density is concentrated along the internuclear axis. A pi bond, or π bond, forms when two p orbitals overlap side by side. In a π bond, the...

mo theory and covalent bonding

Bond Order and Molecular Orbitals

Molecular orbital theory explains how electrons are arranged in molecules. It treats electron regions in a molecule much like atomic orbitals in an atom. A molecular orbital is the region of space where a valence electron is most likely to be found. Molecular orbitals form through the linear combination of atomic orbitals, or LCAO. When atomic wave functions combine in phase, they create regions with high electron density. When they combine out of phase, they create nodes, or regions with no...

intermolecular forces and physical properties

intermolecular-forces-and-physical-properties

How Intermolecular Forces Affect Matter

Intermolecular forces are the attractions between molecules, and they help explain how matter behaves. These forces influence melting points, boiling points, and whether substances mix with one another. Water has a much higher boiling point than hexane, which shows that water has stronger intermolecular forces. Three main kinds of intermolecular interactions are covered here. They include ion-dipole forces, dipole-dipole interactions, and van der Waals forces, which include London dispersion...

solubility

Why Some Substances Dissolve in Water

Solution formation depends on how solutes and solvents interact. A solution is a homogeneous mixture made of a solvent, which is the larger part, and a solute, which is the smaller part. The physical state of a solution is usually the same as the solvent. Concentration is often described as dilute for a low amount of solute or concentrated for a high amount of solute. When a solute dissolves, its particles are surrounded by solvent species. This process is called solvation. If water is the...

introduction to functional groups

Functional Groups and Organic Molecules

Functional groups are groups of atoms with specific chemical properties that appear within organic molecules. They are sometimes shown as "R." These groups sit along the carbon backbone of macromolecules, which can form chains or rings of carbon atoms. Functional groups help functionalize a compound. That means they can give the molecule different physical and chemical properties. In organic chemistry, this change in group structure can strongly affect how a compound behaves. Common...

overview of advanced functional groups

Advanced Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry

Advanced functional groups are atom clusters in organic molecules that give those molecules specific chemical properties. They are sometimes shown as "R" in formulas. By changing the atoms attached to a carbon skeleton, a functional group can make a compound behave differently in physical and chemical reactions. This topic covers several major classes of organic compounds with advanced functional groups. Aromatic hydrocarbons include benzene. Phenol is another example and is also called...

key terms and concepts

Learn how electronegativity affects polar covalent bonds, why electrons shift unevenly, and how partial charges form in shared bonds like H2.

Electronegativity in Polar Covalent Bonds | JoVE K12

organic chemistry

JoVE Core Organic Chemistry explains basic concepts of stereochemistry, reactions, and mechanisms using concise and easy-to-understand animated video lessons. Additionally, the scientist-in-action videos demonstrate the application of related concepts in classical and original research experiments performed in today's laboratories worldwide.

Scientific Laws and Theories

Scientific Laws

In science, a law is defined as a concise, verbal or mathematical, statement that summarizes a vast number of experimental observations. ...

The Atomic Theory of Matter

The earliest recorded discussion of the basic structure of matter comes from ancient Greek philosophers. Leucippus and Democritus argued that all matter ...

Subatomic Particles

Dalton was only partially correct about the particles that make up matter. All matter is composed of atoms, and atoms are composed of three smaller ...

Elements: Chemical Symbols and Isotopes

A chemical symbol is an abbreviation used to indicate an element or an atom of an element. For example, the symbol for mercury is Hg. The same symbol is ...

The Periodic Table

As early chemists discovered more elements, they realized that various elements could be grouped by their similar chemical behaviors. One such grouping ...

The Bohr Model

Following the work of Ernest Rutherford and his colleagues in the early twentieth century, the picture of atoms consisting of tiny dense nuclei surrounded ...

The Quantum-Mechanical Model of an Atom

Shortly after de Broglie published his ideas that the electron in a hydrogen atom could be better thought of as being a circular standing wave instead of ...

Quantum Numbers

It is said that the energy of an electron in an atom is quantized; that is, it can be equal only to certain specific values and can jump from one energy ...

Atomic Orbitals

An atomic orbital represents the three-dimensional regions in an atom where an electron has the highest probability to reside. The radial distribution ...

The Aufbau Principle and Hund's Rule

To determine the electron configuration for any particular atom, we can build the structures in the order of atomic numbers. Beginning with hydrogen, and ...

electron-configuration-of-multielectron-atoms

Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms

The alkali metal sodium (atomic number 11) has one more electron than the neon atom. This electron must go into the lowest-energy subshell available, the ...

Periodic Classification of the Elements

The periodic table arranges atoms based on increasing atomic number so that elements with the same chemical properties recur periodically. When their ...

atomic-radii-and-effective-nuclear-charge

Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge

The elements in groups of the periodic table exhibit similar chemical behavior. This similarity occurs because the members of a group have the same number ...

Ionization Energy

The amount of energy required to remove the most loosely bound electron from a gaseous atom in its ground state is called its first ionization energy ...

Electron Affinity

The electron affinity (EA) is the energy change for adding an electron to a gaseous atom to form an anion (negative ion).



This process can be either ...

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements are soft and shiny metallic solids. They are malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. The melting points of the ...

Halogens

Group 17 elements, known as halogens, are nonmetals. At room temperature, fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a liquid, and iodine a solid. ...

Noble Gases


The elements in group 18 are noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon). They earned the name &ldquo;noble&rdquo; because they were ...

Develop and use models to explain the relationship of the structure of atoms to patterns and properties observed within the Periodic Table and describe how these models are revised with new evidence.

HS.P1U1.1

Types of Chemical Bonds

Chemical bonding theories were pioneered by American chemist Gilbert&#xA0;N. Lewis. He developed a model called the Lewis model to explain the type and ...

Lewis Symbols and the Octet Rule

Chemical bonds are complex interactions between two or more atoms or ions, which reduce the potential energy of the molecule. Gilbert N. Lewis developed a ...

Ions and Ionic Charges

In ordinary chemical reactions, the nucleus &mdash; which contains the protons and neutrons of each atom and thus identifies the element &mdash; remains ...

Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer

Ions are atoms or molecules bearing an electrical charge. A cation (a positive ion) forms when a neutral atom loses one or more electrons from its valence ...

ionic-compounds-formulas-and-nomenclature

Ionic Compounds: Formulas and Nomenclature

An element composed of atoms that readily lose electrons (a metal) can react with an element composed of atoms that readily gain electrons (a nonmetal) to ...

Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures

Compared to ionic bonds, which results from the transfer of electrons between metallic and nonmetallic atoms, covalent bonds result from the mutual ...

Electronegativity

Whether a bond is nonpolar or polar covalent is determined by a property of the bonding atoms called electronegativity.&#xA0;

Electronegativity values of ...

lewis-structures-of-molecular-compounds-and-polyatomic-ions

Lewis Structures of Molecular Compounds and Polyatomic Ions

To draw Lewis structures for complicated molecules and molecular ions, it is helpful to follow a step-by-step procedure as outlined:


	Determine the ...

molecular-compounds-formulas-and-nomenclature

Molecular Compounds: Formulas and Nomenclature

Molecular compounds or covalent compounds result when atoms share electrons to form covalent bonds. Since there is no electron transfer, molecular ...

Bonding in Metals

Metallic bonds are formed between two metal atoms. A simplified model to describe metallic bonding has been developed by Paul Dr&#xFC;de called the ...

Develop and use models for the transfer or sharing of electrons to predict the formation of ions, molecules, and compounds in both natural and synthetic processes.

Reaction Rate

The rate of reaction is the change in the amount of a reactant or product per unit time. Reaction rates are therefore determined by measuring the time ...

Concentration and Rate Law

The rate of a reaction is affected by the concentrations of reactants. Rate laws (differential rate laws) or rate equations are mathematical expressions ...

Temperature Dependence on Reaction Rate

The Collision Theory
Atoms, molecules, or ions must collide before they can react with each other. Atoms must be close together to form chemical bonds. ...

Reaction Mechanisms

Chemical reactions often occur in a stepwise fashion, involving two or more distinct reactions taking place in a sequence. A balanced equation indicates ...

Catalysis

The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed ...

Enzymes

Inside living organisms, enzymes act as catalysts for many biochemical reactions involved in cellular metabolism. The role of enzymes is to reduce the ...

determining-rate-laws-and-the-order-of-reaction

Determining Rate Laws and the Order of Reaction

Source: Laboratory of Dr. Neal Abrams &#8212; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
All chemical reactions have a specific rate defining the ...

Introduction to Catalysis

Source: Laboratory of Dr. Ryan Richards &#8212; Colorado School of Mines
Catalysis is among the most important fields of modern technology and presently ...

Ask questions, plan, and carry out investigations to explore the cause and effect relationship between reaction rate factors.

HS.P1U1.3

Biological Effects of Radiation

All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break ...

Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Source: Tamara M. Powers, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&#38;M University
Today&#39;s modern world requires the use of a large amount of energy. While ...

Batteries and Fuel Cells

A battery is a galvanic cell that is used as a source of electrical power for specific applications. Modern batteries exist in a multitude of forms to ...

Overview of Biomaterials

Biomaterials are materials engineered to interact favorably with biological organisms or molecules. These materials can be derived from or produced by an ...

biodistribution-of-nano-drug-carriers-applications-of-sem

Biodistribution of Nano-drug Carriers: Applications of SEM

Source:&#160;Peiman Shahbeigi-Roodposhti and Sina Shahbazmohamadi, Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
...

Corrosion

The degradation of metals due to natural electrochemical processes is known as corrosion. Rust formation on iron, tarnishing of silver, and the blue-green ...

Polymerization

Source: Vy M. Dong and Jan Riedel, Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA
Polymers are made from macromolecules, which are composed ...

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how the use of chemistry related technologies have had positive and negative ethical, social, economic, and/or political implications.

HS.P1U3.4

Electronegativity in Polar Covalent Bonds

Description

Transcript

Tags

More videos by Standards