What's True:
* Electronegativity: Chlorine (Cl) is more electronegative than hydrogen (H). This means chlorine has a stronger pull on shared electrons in a bond.
* Polar Covalent Bond: The difference in electronegativity between chlorine and hydrogen creates a polar covalent bond. The chlorine atom will have a slightly negative charge (δ-), while the hydrogen atom will have a slightly positive charge (δ+).
What's Incorrect:
* Nonpolar Covalent Molecule: The statement incorrectly concludes that hydrogen chloride (HCl) is nonpolar. Due to the polar covalent bond, HCl is a polar molecule.
Why HCl is Polar:
The uneven sharing of electrons creates a permanent dipole moment in the HCl molecule. The chlorine end is more negative, and the hydrogen end is more positive. This separation of charge makes the molecule polar.
In Summary:
* HCl is a polar molecule because of the polar covalent bond between hydrogen and chlorine. The chlorine atom's stronger pull on shared electrons creates a partial negative charge on the chlorine end.
