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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure  ·  NEET & JEE

Which bond is more polar: H-F or H-Cl?

Answer: H-F (larger electronegativity difference).

  • A H-F (larger electronegativity difference)
  • B H-Cl, due to chlorine's greater atomic radius increasing polarity
  • C Both bonds are equally polar with identical dipole moments
  • D Neither bond shows any measurable polarity at all

Correct answer: A. H-F (larger electronegativity difference)

Explanation: Fluorine is much more electronegative than chlorine, so H-F has a larger dipole moment and is more polar.

Linear180 deg, e.g. CO2Trigonal Planar120 deg, e.g. BF3Tetrahedral109.5 deg, e.g. CH4Trigonal Bipyramidale.g. PCl5Octahedrale.g. SF6

VSEPR theory predicts molecular shape from the number of bonding and lone electron pairs around the central atom.

Concept context

Understand how atoms join to form molecules. Covers ionic and covalent bonding, VSEPR theory, hybridization (sp, sp², sp³), molecular orbital theory, bond polarity, and intermolecular forces like hydrogen bonding.

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