Question

Which of the following molecules is non-polar in nature

• A. NO₂
• B. POCl₃
• C. CH₂O
• D. SbCl₅

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The question asks which of the given molecules is non-polar in nature. Let's analyze each molecule to determine its polarity.

1. NO₂: The NO₂ molecule has a bent shape due to the presence of an unpaired electron on nitrogen. This causes it to be a polar molecule because the bond dipoles do not cancel out, resulting in a net dipole moment.

2. POCl₃: This molecule has a tetrahedral shape with oxygen and chlorine atoms bonded to phosphorus. Due to the different electronegativities of these atoms, the dipole moments do not cancel out perfectly, making POCl₃ a polar molecule.

3. CH₂O (Formaldehyde): CH₂O is a polar molecule because it has a trigonal planar shape with a carbon-oxygen double bond and two C-H bonds. The oxygen is more electronegative, and the resulting dipole moment points towards the oxygen, leading to a net dipole moment.

4. SbCl₅: This molecule has a trigonal bipyramidal shape, and the individual bond dipoles cancel each other out due to its symmetrical geometry. Therefore, there is no net dipole moment, making SbCl₅ a non-polar molecule.

Conclusion: The molecule SbCl₅ is non-polar due to its symmetrical shape, which allows its bond dipoles to cancel out.