Chapter 18, Problem 48R

To determine

Toexplain: the reasons the molecule ${\text{BeCl}}_{\text{2}}$ is non-polar in nature.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The molecule ${\text{BeCl}}_{\text{2}}$ contains the beryllium and 2 chlorine atom. The 2 electron atoms are on both sides of beryllium and thus giving it a linear shape.

The electronegativity of chlorine is greater than beryllium and thus chlorine pulls the electrons from beryllium with greater force. So both the chorine pulls the electrons from beryllium towards each other but on opposite sides.

  $\delta -\delta +\delta -$

  $\begin{array}{l}\text{Cl-Be-Cl}\\ \leftarrow \to \end{array}$

Due to which equal and opposite dipole moment generates and cancel the effect of each other. Thus, the molecule as a whole is non-polar.

Conclusion:

Hence,since both have equal and opposite dipole moments and they cancel each other, so the given molecule isnon-polar.