Based on the information in the table, which pair of elements would likely form the least polar bonds

Question

with each other?
(1 point)
nitrogen and oxygen
bromine and nitrogen
oxygen and phosphorus
phosphorus and bromine

Answer 1

To determine which pair of elements is likely to form the least polar bonds, we can evaluate the differences in their electronegativities.

1. Nitrogen (N) and Oxygen (O):

   • Nitrogen has an electronegativity of about 3.04, while oxygen is about 3.44.
   • The difference is considerable, which leads to a polar bond.

2. Bromine (Br) and Nitrogen (N):

   • Bromine has an electronegativity of about 2.96.
   • The difference between bromine and nitrogen's electronegativities is small, which suggests a less polar bond compared to N-O.

3. Oxygen (O) and Phosphorus (P):

   • Phosphorus has an electronegativity of about 2.19.
   • The difference between oxygen and phosphorus is significant, leading to a polar bond.

4. Phosphorus (P) and Bromine (Br):

   • The electronegativities are 2.19 (P) and 2.96 (Br).
   • The difference is not very large, indicating a less polar bond than the other pairs.

Comparing the pairs, the ones that would form the least polar bonds are phosphorus and bromine because the difference in electronegativity is the smallest compared to the other pairs.