Grade 11 Physical Sciences · Matter and Materials

Determine bond and molecule polarity

Use electronegativity difference and molecular shape to decide if a bond or molecule is polar (CO₂ has polar bonds but is non-polar).

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Atomic Combinations grade 11: Polar vs Non polarKevinmathscience

Polar vs Non-polar molecules: How to determine molecular polarity Gr 11 ChemistryMiss Martins Maths and Science

Atomic Combinations grade 11: Electronegativity and net dipole moments #1Kevinmathscience

Polar and NonPolar Molecules: How To Tell If a Molecule is Polar or NonpolarThe Organic Chemistry Tutor

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Question 2.4 · November 2025 · Paper 2 · Provincial · 4 marks

Consider the following substances (A–D) in the table below: Diagram for this question

2.4 Is

NF_{3}

a POLAR or NON-POLAR molecule?

Fully explain the answer.(4)

Work it out on paper first. Then mark yourself with the official memo, one tick at a time.

More past paper questions: determine bond and molecule polarity

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3. Question WE11 · Siyavula Grade 11 Physical Sciences, 3.3 Electronegativity, Worked example 11 · 4 marks
WE11 State whether methane ( $CH_{4}$ ) is polar or non-polar.(4)
Show the memo (4 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  ShapeThe molecule is tetrahedral. There are four bonding pairs of electrons and no lone pairs.
  1 mark · Predict molecular shape
2. ✓
  Electronegativity differenceThere are four C–H bonds, so only one difference is needed: $2, 5 - 2, 1 = 0, 4$
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity
3. ✓
  Bond polarityEach bond is polar.
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity
4. ✓
  Molecule polarityThe molecule is symmetrical and so is non-polar.
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity
4. Question WE12 · Siyavula Grade 11 Physical Sciences, 3.3 Electronegativity, Worked example 12 · 3 marks
WE12 State whether hydrogen cyanide ( $HCN$ ) is polar or non-polar.(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  ShapeThe molecule is linear. There are four bonding pairs, three of which form a triple bond and so are counted as $1$ . There is one lone pair on the nitrogen atom.
  1 mark · Predict molecular shape
2. ✓
  Bond polaritiesThe electronegativity difference between carbon and hydrogen is $0, 4$ and between carbon and nitrogen is $0, 5$ . Both of the bonds are polar.
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity
3. ✓
  Molecule polarityThe molecule is not symmetrical and so is polar.
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity
5. Question WE2 · Siyavula Grade 11 Physical Sciences, 4.1 Intermolecular and interatomic forces, Worked example 2 · 3 marks
WE2 Which intermolecular forces are found in the following solution: sodium chloride in water?(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Sodium chlorideSodium chloride is ionic (the electronegativity difference is $2, 1$ ).
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity
2. ✓
  WaterWater has polar bonds (the electronegativity difference is $1, 4$ ) and is a polar molecule (its shape is bent or angular).
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity
3. ✓
  Type of forceThis is an ionic substance interacting with a polar substance. This interaction is an ion-dipole force.
  1 mark · Identify the intermolecular forces
6. Question WE10 · Siyavula Grade 11 Physical Sciences, 3.3 Electronegativity, Worked example 10 · 3 marks
WE10 State whether hydrogen ( $H_{2}$ ) is polar or non-polar.(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  ShapeThe molecule is linear. There is one bonding pair of electrons and no lone pairs.
  1 mark · Predict molecular shape
2. ✓
  Bond polarityHydrogen: $2, 1$ . There is only one bond and the electronegativity difference is $0$ .
  The bond is non-polar.
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity
3. ✓
  Molecule polarityThe molecule is non-polar.
  1 mark · Determine bond and molecule polarity

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