Aluminum and Fluorine form a substance with the formula AlF3. Is the bond between Al and F polar?
If so which atom carries the partial positive charge?
Al has EN of 1.61. F is 4.00. Difference is 2.39. Remember that a difference of about 1.7 or so is 50% ionic/covalent so yes this is a polar bond. Al is the + and F is the -. I consider this as ionic also.
Yes, the bond between aluminum (Al) and fluorine (F) in AlF3 is polar.
In a polar bond, there is an uneven distribution of electron density between the bonded atoms. This occurs when one atom is more electronegative (has a greater ability to attract electrons) than the other.
In this case, fluorine is more electronegative than aluminum, meaning it has a greater ability to attract electrons towards itself. As a result, the fluorine atom carries a partial negative charge (δ-) and the aluminum atom carries a partial positive charge (δ+).
So, in AlF3, the aluminum atom carries the partial positive charge (δ+).
To determine if the bond between aluminum (Al) and fluorine (F) in AlF3 is polar, we need to consider the electronegativity difference between the two atoms.
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons towards itself. In general, when there is a significant electronegativity difference between two atoms, a polar bond is formed. The greater the electronegativity difference, the more polar the bond.
The electronegativity of aluminum is 1.61, while the electronegativity of fluorine is 3.98 (according to the Pauling scale). Therefore, there is a significant electronegativity difference between Al and F.
In AlF3, fluorine is more electronegative than aluminum. As a result, the bond between Al and F will be polar, with a partial negative charge on the fluorine atom and a partial positive charge on the aluminum atom. This is because fluorine will attract the shared electrons more strongly towards itself, thereby acquiring a partial negative charge, while aluminum will have less electron density and thus a partial positive charge.
In summary, the bond between Al and F in AlF3 is polar, with the fluorine atom carrying the partial negative charge and the aluminum atom carrying the partial positive charge.