Is Hypochlorous acid (HClO) polar or nonpolar? - Polarity of HClO
The question is –
Is HClO polar or non-polar?
Answer:
⇒ HClO is a polar molecule.
Explanation:
Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is polar as it consists of polar O-H and O-Cl bonds.
The unequal O-H and O-Cl dipole moments do not get canceled in the bent, angular, or V-shape of the molecule.
HClO consists of an oxygen (O) atom at the center. It is single-covalently bonded to a hydrogen (H) atom on one side and a chlorine (Cl) atom on the other.
It is due to 2 lone pair of electrons on the central O-atom that leads to strong lone pair-lone pair and lone pair-bond pair repulsions in the molecule, and thus, HClO occupies an asymmetric bent, angular or V-shape.
In HClO, a high electronegativity difference of 1.24 units exists between the bonded hydrogen (E.N = 2.20) and oxygen (E.N = 3.44) atoms in the O-H bond while an electronegativity difference of 0.28 units exists between the bonded oxygen and chlorine (E.N = 3.16) atoms in the O-Cl bond.
Therefore, the O-H bond is strongly polar, while the O-Cl bond is weakly polar.
The central O-atom gains a partial negative charge (δ–), while the terminal H and Cl-atoms attain partial positive charges (δ+) relatively.
The O-H bond possesses a strong dipole moment value, while the O-Cl bond possesses a weak dipole moment value.
Therefore, in the asymmetric bent shape, the O-Cl and O-H dipole moments do not get canceled equally.
Consequently, HClO is a polar molecule overall (net µ > 0).
⇒ HOCl lewis structure, molecular geometry, bond angle, hybridization
⇒ How to know if a compound is polar or nonpolar?
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