Question

Is ${\mathrm{p}}_4$ polar?

Answer 1

The polarity of a molecule:

• A polar molecule is generally formed when one of the molecules is said to have a high number of positive charges and whereas the opposite end of the molecule has negative charges, generating an electrical dipole.

Polarity of ${\mathrm{p}}_4$:

• In ${\mathrm{p}}_4$ , all of the bonding of the atoms are the same, hence there will be no polarity between the bonds between the atoms, and thus no polarity in the compound as a whole.
• Therefore, tetraphosphorus is a nonpolar molecule, since each phosphorus atom’s electron pull in opposing directions is the same which cancels each other out.
• The structure of ${\mathrm{p}}_4$can be shown as;

Hence, ${\mathrm{p}}_4$is a nonpolar molecule.