Student Exploration: Polarity and Intermolecular Forces
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: dipole, dipole-dipole force, dipole-induced dipole force, electronegativity, intermolecular force, ioni...
Student Exploration: Polarity and Intermolecular Forces
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to
the questions and prompts in the orange boxes.
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. A big bully is having a tug-of-war with a small child. There is a ball attached to
the middle of the rope. Toward whom will the ball move?
The ball will move towards the big bully.
2. Two equally strong kids are having a tug-of-war. What do you expect to happen
to the ball in this situation?
The ball will most likely stay somewhere equidistant between the two.
Gizmo Warm-up
Just like in a tug-of-war, atoms that are bonded to one another pull on the electrons
they share. In the Polarity and Intermolecular Forces Gizmo, you will explore how these
opposing forces relate to bond types and the forces between molecules.
To begin, drag the Na (sodium) and Cl (chlorine) atoms into the simulation area.
Turn on Show valence electrons. A valence electron is found in the outermost energy
level of the atom.
1. Click Play ( ). What do you notice?
The sodium atom lost its electron to chlorine. Chlorine has a 1- charge, Sodium
has a 1+ charge. The atoms are bonded together.
2. Which atom seems to be pulling more on the sodium’s one valence electron?
How do you know?
Chlorine is pulling more on sodium’s electron. This is because chlorine has a
negative charge and sodium has a positive charge, indicating that chlorine has
more electrons.
3. What happens to the colors of the simulated atoms, and what does this indicate?
Sodium is completely blue, indicating a positive charge. Chlorine is completely
red, indicating a negative charge.
, Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● On the BOND POLARITY tab, click Reset ( ).
Bond polarity
● Drag the atoms out of the simulation area.
Introduction: A neutral atom has the same number of protons as electrons. Atoms
that gain electrons become negatively charged, while those that lose electrons
become positive. A polar bond forms when shared electrons are pulled closer to one
atom than another, causing the bonded atoms to become partially charged. In a
nonpolar bond, electrons are shared equally.
Question: What causes bonds to be polar or nonpolar?
1. Observe: Select the Show polar molecule inset checkbox. The animation
shows the probable location of electrons (orange dots) in a polar molecule.
The electrons are (on average) closer to the atom
A. What do you notice about
the left than the atom on the right.
the distribution of the
electrons? This makes the atom on the left have a slightly
negative charge due to more electrons. The atom
B. How does this electron
the right has a slightly positive charge as it has les
distribution affect the charges electrons.
of the bonded atoms?
2. Observe: Turn on the Show nonpolar molecule inset.
A. How are the electrons in The electrons are spread evenly in this
this molecule molecule.
distributed?
These bonded atoms remain neutral because
B. Why do the bonded atoms electrons are shared equally, therefore neither
remain neutral? side is more negative/positive.
3. Experiment: Turn off Show polar molecule inset and Show nonpolar molecule
inset. Check that Show valence electrons is turned on. Drag the Na and Cl
atoms into the simulation area. Click Play. Note the colors. Red indicates a
negative charge, while blue indicates a positive charge.
This is a “polar” bond since electrons are not share
A. Does a polar or nonpolar bond form?
equally. It is actually an ionic bond since one of
sodium’s electrons was transferred permanently a
completely to the chlorine atom.
B. Try several other metal/nonmetal combinations. What do you notice
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