Question

Use the table to answer the question. Element Electronegativity bromine 2.8 oxygen 3.5 nitrogen 3.0 phosphorus 2.1 Based on the information in the table, which pair of elements would likely form the least polar bonds with each other? (1 point) Responses bromine and nitrogen bromine and nitrogen phosphorus and bromine phosphorus and bromine nitrogen and oxygen nitrogen and oxygen oxygen and phosphorus

Answer 1

To determine which pair of elements would likely form the least polar bonds, we should look at the electronegativity values provided in the table.

- Bromine: 2.8
- Oxygen: 3.5
- Nitrogen: 3.0
- Phosphorus: 2.1

The polarity of a bond is related to the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms involved. The smaller the difference, the less polar the bond will be.

Let's calculate the differences in electronegativity for each pair:

1. **Bromine and Nitrogen**: |2.8 - 3.0| = 0.2
2. **Phosphorus and Bromine**: |2.1 - 2.8| = 0.7
3. **Nitrogen and Oxygen**: |3.0 - 3.5| = 0.5
4. **Oxygen and Phosphorus**: |3.5 - 2.1| = 1.4

Among these differences, the smallest difference is **0.2** for bromine and nitrogen. Therefore, the pair of elements that would likely form the least polar bonds with each other is:

**Bromine and Nitrogen**.