Chapter 13: Problem 16
Arrange \(2,2,3\) -trimethylpentane, 1 -propanol, toluene \(\left(\mathrm{C}_{7} \mathrm{H}_{8}\right)\), and dimethyl sulfoxide \(\left[\left(\mathrm{CH}_{3}\right)_{2} S=0\right]\) in order of increasing dipole moment. Explain your reasoning.
Short Answer
Expert verified
Arrange as follows: 2,2,3-trimethylpentane < toluene < 1-propanol < dimethyl sulfoxide (increasing dipole moment).
Step by step solution
01
Understand Dipole Moments
Dipole moment is a measure of the separation of positive and negative charges in a molecule. The greater the difference in electronegativity between atoms and the more asymmetric the molecule, the higher the dipole moment.
02
Analyze Molecular Structures
Examine each given compound's molecular geometry. Non-polar molecules like toluene (a hydrocarbon) have symmetric structures, potentially low or zero dipole moments. Conversely, molecules with a strong presence of polar bonds (such as those containing O or highly electronegative atoms like Cl) tend to have higher dipole moments.
03
Determine Individual Dipole Moments for Molecules
- **2,2,3-trimethylpentane**: It's a hydrocarbon, which means it has a very low or essentially zero dipole moment due to its non-polar C-H bonds.
- **1-propanol**: Contains an O-H bond which is highly polar, giving this molecule a notable dipole moment.
- **Toluene**: Mostly non-polar due to its hydrocarbon structure, but the slightly higher dipole moment might occur because of the unsymmetrically substituted methyl group.
- **Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)**: Contains a strongly polar S=O bond, resulting in a high dipole moment.
04
Arrange Based on Dipole Moments
Based on the structural analysis, the order of increasing dipole moment is:
1. 2,2,3-trimethylpentane (lowest dipole moment, non-polar)
2. Toluene (mostly non-polar with slightly polar methyl effect)
3. 1-propanol (polar O-H bond)
4. Dimethyl sulfoxide (highest dipole moment due to S=O bond)
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Molecular Geometry
Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule. It's like a snapshot of how a molecule looks in space. Why is this important? It helps determine how a molecule behaves, especially its physical and chemical properties like polarity and reactivity.
- Symmetrical molecules tend to be non-polar. This is because the attractive forces are balanced out, resulting in little to no dipole moment.
- Asymmetrical molecules, on the other hand, may have areas of partial positive and negative charges, increasing their dipole moments.
Electronegativity
Electronegativity is a property of atoms that measures their tendency to attract and bond with electrons. Think of it like a tug-of-war between atoms where the stronger one wins more electron density.
- Higher electronegativity means stronger pull on electrons, often making the molecule polar.
- Oxygen (O) is more electronegative than most other elements, which is why O-H bonds in compounds like 1-propanol are highly polar.
- The electronegativity difference between bonded atoms determines the bond type: non-polar covalent (small difference) or polar covalent (large difference).
Polar Bonds
A polar bond forms when two atoms with different electronegativities share electrons unequally, creating a separation of charge. It’s like balancing on a seesaw where one side is heavier.
- These bonds are fundamental in determining molecular polarity.
- For instance, in 1-propanol, the O-H bond is polar because oxygen attracts the shared electrons more than hydrogen, resulting in a partial negative charge near the oxygen.
- In DMSO, the S=O bond is another example of a polar bond, which adds to the molecule’s significant dipole moment.
Chemical Structure
Chemical structure defines the arrangement of atoms within a molecule and informs us about how molecules are built and how they might react chemically.
- This structure is central to understanding molecular properties like stability and reactivity, as well as dipole moments.
- For hydrocarbons like 2,2,3-trimethylpentane and toluene, the structure is mostly symmetrical, resulting in non-polarity and very low or zero dipole moment.
- Molecules like DMSO have strong differences in electronegativity between atoms (such as in S=O) and an asymmetric structure, giving rise to a high dipole moment.