Which of the following molecules is non-polar in nature?
- NO2
- POCl3
- CH2O
- SbCl5
Answer
(4) SbCl5
Solution
(1) NO2 is angular (bent) ⇒ bond dipoles do not cancel ⇒ polar.
(2) POCl3 is tetrahedral with different groups (P=O and P–Cl) ⇒ polar.
(3) CH2O is trigonal planar with C=O and C–H bonds ⇒ polar.
(4) SbCl5: sp3d hybridised Sb, trigonal bipyramidal with five identical Sb–Cl bonds ⇒ bond dipoles cancel ⇒ = 0, non-polar.
Answer: (4)