Advanced Placement (AP) Chemistry Practice Exam

Polarity in a molecule is caused by what kind of electron distribution?

1. Equal sharing of electrons among atoms

2. Unequal sharing of electrons leading to charge clustering

3. Absence of any electronegative elements

4. Presence of isotopes within the molecule

The correct answer is: Unequal sharing of electrons leading to charge clustering

Polarity in a molecule arises from the unequal sharing of electrons between atoms, which leads to the formation of partial charges within the molecule. This unequal distribution occurs when atoms involved in a bond have different electronegativities. The atom with higher electronegativity attracts the shared electrons more strongly, causing a region of partial negative charge around it and creating a corresponding region of partial positive charge on the less electronegative atom. This results in a dipole moment, which is a characteristic of polar molecules. The presence of charge clustering due to this unequal electron sharing is what defines a molecule as polar. In contrast, equal sharing of electrons leads to a nonpolar molecule, as the electron density is symmetrically distributed, resulting in no charge separation. The absence of electronegative elements does not contribute to polarity because there would be no significant differences in electron distribution. Isotopes pertain to variations in atomic mass and do not affect the distribution of electrons or the polarity of a molecule. Therefore, the correct understanding of polarity directly relates to the concept of unequal sharing of electrons leading to charge clustering.