Question

Which among the following is not attracted towards a charged plate?

• A. water
• B. ammonia
• C. hydrochloric acid
• D. bromine

Answer 1

The correct option is D

bromine

The explanation for the correct answer

(d) bromine:

Since bromine is a neutral atom, it does not have a charge. Therefore, bromine is not attracted to a charged plate.

The explanation for the incorrect answer

(a) water:

• When a negatively-charged rod is brought close to a water stream, individual water molecules align themselves so the positive (hydrogen) endpoints toward the rod.
• Negative and positive charges attract one another and the water stream is bent towards the rod.

(b) ammonia:

Ammonium has a charge of 1 as the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom is used to form a bond with hydrogen. Since the electrons on the nitrogen atom are moving away from its nucleus during the bond formation, the nitrogen atom attains a positive charge. Therefore, they get attracted to the charged plate.

(c) hydrochloric acid:

• The chlorine atom of HCl (Hydrochloric acid) develops a partial negative charge and hydrogen atoms develop a partial positive charge due to the higher electronegativity of chlorine.
• Hence, HCl is partial negatively charged. Therefore, they are attracted to the charged plate

Therefore, option (D) i.e. bromine is correct.