Question

Which compound is most likely to be a covalently bonded, polar compound?

Responses

NaCl
uppercase N lowercase a uppercase C lowercase l

NH3
uppercase N H subscript 3 end subscript

CH4
uppercase C H subscript 4 end subscript

CCl4
uppercase C C lowercase l subscript 4 end subscript

Answer 1

NH3

Reason: NH3 is covalently bonded with polar N–H bonds and a trigonal pyramidal shape (lone pair on N), so the bond dipoles do not cancel and the molecule has a net dipole. NaCl is ionic, CH4 is covalent but nonpolar, and CCl4 has polar bonds that cancel in its tetrahedral symmetry, giving no net dipole.