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drgshahbaz1193
Joined: 26 Mar 2010
Posts: 18
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 Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 1:49 am Post subject: Charge vs. polarity |
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| I am not sure can you classify something that is charged (ion) as being polar? I am reviewing this for the MCAT and am a little confused. I mean is a charge attracted to a oppositely polar region of a moleule? Or does charge attract charge and polar molecules attract polar molecules exclusively? |
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mcat_premed3832
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 413
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| Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 3:40 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | I am not sure can you classify something that is charged (ion) as being polar? |
If you mean, for example, the ionic form of an atom like Na+ or Cl- then no, you can't classify it as polar. Polarity in General Chemistry usually refers to an actual bond or a molecule (which of course includes many bonds). Ions like Na+ have no bonds and thus the issue of polarity is not discussed for these species.
| Quote: | | I mean is a charge attracted to a oppositely polar region of a moleule? |
To clarify, I think you'll need to give an example.
A classic is CO2, carbon dioxide. Because oxygen is to the right of carbon in the periodic table then it more electronegative meaning it attracts electrons to itself more strongly when bonded to carbon.
O=C=O
Thus each oxygen is partially negative (because each oxygen is pulling the electrons in the bond away from carbon) and thus the carbon in the middle is partially positive.
The positive or partially positive charge on one molecule or atom will have some attraction to a negative or partially negative charge on another molecule or atom. Opposites attract is the basis for intermolecular bonds (these are bonds between different molecules). |
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