Question

Hanny - Smith formula for calculating the percentage of ionic character is

• A. $16(|x_A-x_B|)+3.5(x_A-x_B{)}^2$
• B. $16(x_A-x_B)+3.5(x_A-x_B{)}^2$
• C. $16(x_A-x_B{)}^2-3.5(x_A-x_B)$
• D. $16(x_A-x_B{)}^2+3.5(x_A-x_B{)}^2$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $16(|x_A-x_B|)+3.5(x_A-x_B{)}^2$

% ionic character = $16(|x_A-x_B|)+3.5(x_A-x_B{)}^2$

where '$x_A$ ' is the electronegativity of one element and $x_B$ is the electronegativity of the other element.

The first expression includes a modulus because we are interested in the difference in electronegativity.

Note: This gives the % ionic character. To calculate % covalent character, we have to do 1 - (% ionic character).