Chemistry I / Chemical Bonds and Electronegativity
Practice question · Estimate

Two bonded atoms have electronegativities 3.0 and 2.1. Set the electronegativity difference of the bond.

Estimate on a scale from Nonpolar (0) (0) to Strongly ionic (3) (3).

Hints
  1. Take the difference between the two values.
  2. Compute 3.0 - 2.1 and place it on the scale.
Show the answer

0.9 (answers within ±0.15 count)

Why

Δ\DeltaEN =3.02.1=0.9= 3.0 - 2.1 = 0.9, which lands in the 0.4 to 1.7 band, a polar covalent bond, with the shared pair displaced toward the more electronegative atom but not transferred outright.

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