Is LiF polar or nonpolar?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether lithium fluoride (LiF) is a polar or nonpolar compound, which involves understanding the nature of the chemical bonds and molecular geometry.
Answer
polar
LiF is ionic, which results in it being polar.
Answer for screen readers
LiF is ionic, which results in it being polar.
More Information
LiF is an ionic compound due to the large electronegativity difference between lithium and fluorine. This results in a significant dipole moment, making LiF a polar compound.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing ionic bonds with nonpolarity due to rigid definitions. Electronegativity differences leading to ionic bonds mean these compounds can still have dipole moments indicating polarity.
Sources
- Had this on a quiz, got it wrong and I’m stumped at the reason for... - reddit.com
- Is the compound LiF polar or nonpolar? - Answers.com - answers.com
- Is LiF Ionic or Covalent/Molecular? - YouTube - youtube.com