Question

Which compound in the following pair would you expect to have the greater dipole moment μ? Why? Select the single best answer. KCl or HCl.

A. Hydrogen chloride has the larger dipole moment because potassium has a greater atomic radius than hydrogen.

B. Potassium chloride has the larger dipole moment because hydrogen has a greater atomic radium than potassium.

C. Hydrogen chloride has the larger dipole moment, because potassium is more electronegative than hydrogen.

D. Potassium chloride has the larger dipole moment, because hydrogen is more electronegative than potassium.

Answer 1

Answer – We are given the KCl and HCl molecules and we need to determine the greater dipole moment μ. We know the dipole moment is the measuring the net polarity the molecule, so as the more polarity there is more dipole moment.

We know the polarity increase as the electronegativity difference of two atom increase. We know ionic compound has more polar than covalent molecule. The HCl is covalent and KCl is ionic compound, so KCl has more polarity than HCl.

So answer for this question is - D. Potassium chloride has the larger dipole moment, because hydrogen is more electronegative than potassium.