5.

5 Electronegativity

Resources needed:
OUP OCR A textbook
Lesson plan
Starter: Students identify the shapes and bond angles of molecules
Main: Students listen to a recap on London forces
Students listen to an explanation on electronegativity
Students label partial charges on molecules
Students listen to an explanation of dipole-dipole forces
Students use the textbook to answer questions from the board then answer the
summary questions.
Students answer exam questions.
Plenary
Students answer 5 multiple choice questions

Dr Alex Johnston, Southampton, Richard Taunton 6 th Form College

 Starter: i) How many bonding pairs (or areas of electron density does each molecule have?

ii) Does it have any lone pairs?

iii) What is the shape of the molecule & what is the bond angle around the central atom?

Carbon dioxide

Water Fluoromethane
2 regions of electron
2 bonding pairs, 2 lone pairs 4 bonding pairs Tetrahedral
density
V-Shape/non-linear (104.5O) (109.5O)
Linear (180O)

Nitrogen trifluoride
Boron Trifluoride
Sulphur hexafluoride

3 bonding pairs, 1 lone pair 3 bonding pairs 6 bonding pairs

pyramidal (107O) Trigonal planar (120O) Octahedral (90O)
 OCR-A Chemistry Autumn term

Introduction to chemistry Introduction to organic

Enthalpy changes
chemistry

OCR-A Chemistry Spring-Summer term

Acids & bases The halogens and Rates of reaction and Organic synthesis
halogenoalkanes equilibrium
 Ionic equations The halogens and Testing for
halides inorganic ions
5. The Halogens and
Halogenoalkanes

Preparing a
Electronegativity & Halogenoalkanes Nucleophilic
halogenoalkane
intermolecular substitution
bonding
 Electronegativity

Today you will be learning about electronegativity and its

effect on intermolecular bonding.
 Electronegativity

The learning objectives for this lesson are:

• FC16i-Explain that electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract the bonding electrons in a
covalent bond

• FC16ii-Interpret Pauling electronegativity values

• FC16iii-Explain that a polar bond is a permanent dipole within molecules containing covalently-
bonded atoms with different electronegativities

• FC16iv-Explain in terms of permanent dipole(s) and molecular shape that a polar molecule has an
overall dipole
• CO3viii-Use partial charges to label a dipole
 Induced dipole-dipole
(also called London forces)
 1

These are two xenon atoms. Their electrons are moving constantly.
 2

At any one instant the electron cloud may be distributed unequally.

 δ = delta
2

This causes partial charges, δ+ and δ–, to develop.

An instantaneous dipole forms.

 3

The instantaneous dipole on one atom induces a dipole on a

neighbouring atom.
 4

There is an electrostatic force of attraction between the δ– on one

atom and the δ+ on the other atom.

These are induced dipole–dipole attractions. They are present

between all molecules but they are weak.
Fluorine
As you go down group 7:
(F2)

-There are more electrons in

Yellow gas

each element
Chlorine
(Cl2) -This means there are stronger

Green gas London Forces

Bromine -This means more energy is

(Br2)
required to separate the

Orange liquid intermolecular forces

Iodine -Boiling point increases

(I2)

Grey solid
 H-Cl F-F

Hydrogen chloride and fluorine are two molecules with similar

relative formula masses. But, very different boiling points.
This is due to their intermolecular bonds
Fluorine has London forces between molecules
Hydrogen chloride has London forces and permanent-dipole-dipole
attractions
Permanent-dipole-dipole attractions arise due to electronegativity
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

F
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

F
4.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

Li F
1.0 4.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

Li Be F
1.0 1.5 4.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

Li Be B F
1.0 1.5 2.0 4.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

Li Be B C F
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 4.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

Li Be B C N F
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 4.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

Li Be B C N O F
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

Li Be B C N O F
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.5 3.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

H He

Li Be B C N O F Ne
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.5 3.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

H He
2.1
Li Be B C N O F Ne
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.5 3.0
 Electronegativity
Pauling’s electronegativity scale

What pattern do you notice?

H He
2.1 -
Li Be B C N O F Ne
1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 -
Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
0.9 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.5 3.0 -
 Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract bonding electrons in a covalent bond.

It is measured using the Pauling scale. The higher the value the more electronegative the element.
In a covalent bond of two different electronegativities the bonding
electrons are pulled towards the more electronegative atom.

This makes the bond polar.

If a molecule has polar

If a molecule has polar
bonds but they are
bonds and is not
arranged in opposing
symmetrical in every plane
directions then they
then is has a permanent
cancel out and the
dipole and is a polar
molecule is non-polar.
molecule
 Are they polar or not?
How can you tell?

Tip:
Look at where the polar charges are.
If the polarity of a side or end of a molecule is different
then the molecule is polar.

One of these is polar and one isn’t.

Can you identify which and say why?

Identify δ+ and δ- on these molecules. Does the molecule have a permanent dipole?
Write the electronegativity values next to each atom, which molecules will have a bigger permanent dipole?
Note: C-H bonds are counted as being non-polar, why do you think that is?

Carbon dioxide

Water Trichloromethane Fluoromethane

(Chloroform)

Diethyl ether Hydrogen fluoride

Nitrogen trifluoride

Propene Boron Trifluoride Propanone

Dichloromethane Ammonia
Permanent dipole –dipole interactions
 Hydrogen chloride has a permanent dipole.

The chlorine atom has a partial negative charge, δ–, and the
hydrogen atom has a partial positive charge, δ+.
Permanent dipole–permanent dipole attractions form between
the molecules.
Permanent dipole–dipole attractions are stronger than
instantaneous dipole–induced dipole attractions.
Hydrogen chloride and fluorine have similar relative formula masses.
The strengths of their instantaneous dipole–induced dipole
attractions will be similar, so they should have similar boiling points if
these are the only attractions.
Hydrogen chloride has a higher boiling point because it also has
permanent dipole–dipole attractions.
Task 1: Read pages 74-75 of the textbook
a) What is electronegativity?
b) What changes as you go across the periodic table and what effect does
this have on electronegativity?
c) When is a bond ionic rather than covalent?
d) When is a bond non-polar?
e) What is a polar covalent bond?
f) Draw diagrams of a water and a carbon dioxide molecule, explain why
one is polar and the other is not.
g) Why is water able to dissolve sodium chloride
Task 2: Answer the summary questions on page 76
 Electronegativity

Answer polar molecules 3, 4 & 5 on pages 18-19

The first question is about molecular shape, not
electronegativity
 Compound Boiling point /°C
From the types of bonding,

Ammonia
size of the molecule and size

Boron Trifluoride
of the polar bonds. Which

Carbon dioxide
will have a higher boiling

Dichloromethane point?

Diethyl ether State why in each case.

Ethanoic acid i) Carbon dioxide or

Ethene ammonia?

Fluoromethane ii) Ethene or ethanoic acid?

Hydrogen fluoride iii) Ethene or diethyl ether?

Nitrogen trifluoride iv) Water or

Trichloromethane dichloromethane?

Water v) Nitrogen trifluoride or

Boron trifluoride?
 Compound Boiling point /°C
From the types of bonding,

Ammonia -33
size of the molecule and size

Boron Trifluoride -100

of the polar bonds. Which

Carbon dioxide -57

will have a higher boiling

Dichloromethane 40 point?

Diethyl ether 34.6 State why in each case.

Ethanoic acid 118 i) Carbon dioxide or

Ethene -101 ammonia?

Fluoromethane -78.4 ii) Ethene or ethanoic acid?

Hydrogen fluoride 19.5 iii) Ethene or diethyl ether?

Nitrogen trifluoride -129 iv) Water or

Trichloromethane 61.2 dichloromethane?

Water 100 v) Nitrogen trifluoride or

Boron trifluoride?
 Electronegativity

15 marks on each of your exam papers are for multiple choice questions. At the end
of each lesson we will practice these.
Turn to the back of your workbook. There is space for you to answer 5 questions.
Fill in the lesson title.
 2 June 2025

Question 1

Which of these is the definition of electronegativity?

A The ability of an atom to attract bonding electrons in a covalent bond

B The ability of an atom to push electrons away from the nucleus

C The ability of an atom to share electrons equally

D The ability of an atom to form a stable covalent bond

 2 June 2025

Question 2

As you go down group 7, which of these statements is incorrect?

A There are stronger London Forces

B There are more electrons in each element

C The boiling point increases

D The molecules of each element have weaker London forces

 2 June 2025

Question 3
Which of these molecules does not have a permanent dipole

B
A

C D
 2 June 2025

Question 4

Which of these is the most electronegative element?

A F

B N

C O

D Cl
 2 June 2025

Question 5

Which of these bonds has the biggest difference in electronegativity?

A H-Cl

B C=O

C C-F

D O-H
 Electronegativity

Get ready to mark your answers

 2 June 2025

Question 1

Which of these is the definition of electronegativity?

A The ability of an atom to attract bonding electrons in a covalent bond

B The ability of an atom to push electrons away from the nucleus

C The ability of an atom to share electrons equally

D The ability of an atom to form a stable covalent bond

 2 June 2025

Question 2

As you go down group 7, which of these statements is incorrect?

A There are stronger London Forces

B There are more electrons in each element

C The boiling point increases

D The molecules of each element have weaker London forces

 2 June 2025

Question 3
Which of these molecules does not have a permanent dipole

B
A

C D
 2 June 2025

Question 4

Which of these is the most electronegative element?

A F

B N

C O

D Cl
 2 June 2025

Question 5

Which of these bonds has the biggest difference in electronegativity?

A H-Cl

B C=O

C C-F

D O-H