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NEET CHEMISTRYChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureEasy

Question

H2OH_{2}O is dipolar, whereas BeF2BeF_{2} is not. It is because:

A

H2OH_{2}O involves hydrogen bonding whereas BeF2BeF_{2} is a discrete molecule.

B

H2OH_{2}O is linear and BeF2BeF_{2} is angular.

C

H2OH_{2}O is angular and BeF2BeF_{2} is linear.

D

The electronegativity of F is greater than that of O

Step-by-Step Solution

The polarity of a molecule depends on both its bond dipoles and its spatial arrangement (molecular geometry). According to the sources:

  1. H2OH_{2}O (Water): The central oxygen atom has two bonding pairs and two lone pairs of electrons (AB2E2AB_{2}E_{2} type). According to VSEPR theory, these four electron pairs are arranged tetrahedrally, but the presence of lone pairs results in a bent or angular geometry with a bond angle of 104.5° . Because of this angular shape, the individual O–H bond dipoles do not cancel each other out, resulting in a net dipole moment of 1.85 D .
  2. BeF2BeF_{2} (Beryllium Fluoride): The central beryllium atom has only two bonding pairs and no lone pairs (AB2AB_{2} type). This results in a linear geometry where the bond angle is 180° . In this linear arrangement, the two equal Be–F bond dipoles point in exactly opposite directions and completely cancel each other out, leading to a net dipole moment of zero .

Thus, the difference in their dipolar nature is due to their different molecular geometries .

Exam Context & Concepts Covered

This question aligns with the NEET CHEMISTRY syllabus, specifically targeting concepts from Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure. Mastering this topic is crucial for scoring well in the upcoming medical entrance examinations. Solving conceptually related problems will help you understand the nuances of these concepts and improve your problem-solving speed.

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