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Molecular Geometry and Polarity

Lauren Salem

Chloe Biggs

CHEM 1251-046

11/8/2017
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Introduction: The purpose of this lab was to learn further about the shapes of molecules and

how these shapes affect the polarity of the molecules in CH chains. The VSEPR Theory states

electron groups repel one another and tend to occupy as much space as possible. This theory

allows scientists to estimate the geometry of a molecule by counting the number of electron

domains from the central atom. An electron domain can be defined as any lone pair, single,

double or triple bond, or any electron found in a free radical. Lone pairs have maximum

repulsion that tends to reduce the bond angles and occupy the most space, which in fact gives

molecular geometry. Molecular geometries can be classified under electron geometries and gives

a more specific look at the molecule's shape. Knowing the three-dimensional structure of a

molecule helps scientist understand attributes that the molecule displays. One of these attributes

is molecular polarity. Molecular polar can be defined as the separation of charge in a molecule

due to unequal sharing of electrons. The polarity of a molecule can be described as the net dipole

movement and can lead to a molecule becoming polar or nonpolar. Molecules of these

categories can mix with their same kind, but cannot dissolve in the one another.

Procedure: To prepare for this lab, begin with gathering molecular modeling kits. First build

models for tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and octahedral. Begin with these because they have

no lone pairs. Inspect these shapes noting their angles, drawing their shape, and remembering

their names.

Once comfortable with these shapes, remove one atom to generate a new molecular shape. They

should be the square pyramidal, seesaw, and trigonal pyramidal shapes. Learn their names shapes

and bond angles nothing that the bond angles with change slightly with the addition of the lone

pair.
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Following, pull of the next correct lone pair. Lone pairs have specific location on molecules, so

be sure to take the correct bonding atom off of the central atom. Continue to note the angles,

names, and shapes on the worksheet provide.

Once all of the molecular geometries are created and understood, apply the knowledge into

correctly identifying the chemical formulas provided by the lab professor.

After learning about the shapes of each molecular geometry, move on to miscibility based on

molecular polarity. Miscibility is the ability of liquids to mix with one another, this characteristic

is based almost purely on molecular polarity. To begin this portion of the experiment gather three

medium sized test tubes, water, methanol, pentane, and food dye.

Measure about three mL of water and place it in the same medium test tube as 3 mL of

methanol. Describe any observation in the handouts provide. Next add 1 drop of food dye and

note and other observations noting that food dye is a polar substance.

Repeat this step in different test tubes for water and pentane along with methanol and pentane.

After observing and recording, clean the station by disposing of liquids in the waste beaker.

Wash and dry all supplies returning them to their correct locations.

After cleaning and resetting the lab space, gather a clean and dry test tube, water, food dye,

ethanol, propanol, and butanol. Using these, it is possible to test the effect of CH chain length on

miscibility of alcohols in water.

First, add three mL of water to a medium clean, dry test tube. To the water add one drop of food

dye along with three mL of ethanol. Using the handouts, record your observations. Continue to

repeat this process with three mL of propanol and three mL of butanol. Clean by disposing

liquids into the waste beaker and clean and dry all materials.
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Results:

Table 1: Molecular Modeling with Kits

Molecular Geometry # of Electron 3-D Drawing Bond Angles

Domains

Octahedral 6 90

180

Square Pyramidal 6 84.8

Square Planar 6 90

180

Trigonal Bipyramidal 5 90

120

180

Seesaw 5 173.1

101.6

90
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T-Shape 5 87.5

175

Tetrahedral 4 109.5

Trigonal Pyramidal 4 107.8

Bent 4 104.48

Table 2: Identifying the Molecular Geometry of Molecules

Identification Letter Chemical Formula Molecular Geometry 3-D Drawing

A XeF4 Square Planar

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B SF4 Seesaw

C BrF5 Square Pyramidal

D H2O Bent

E ClF3 T-Shape

Table 3: Miscibility Based on Molecular Polarity

System # Observations

Water/ Methanol All mixed, pale blue coloring

Water/ Pentane Blue food coloring settled in the bottom. Meniscus formed and was
define

Methanol/ Pentane There was a very defined line of where the blue dye was versus where it
wasnt
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Table 4: Effect of Chain Length on Miscibility of Alcohol in Water

System # Observations

Water/Methanol Dye settles to the bottom eventually, but there was no distinct layer.
When mixed there is no definition and all is blue.

Water/ Ethanol Though there are separate layers, there is no defined line and some blue
dye is in both layers when mixed.

Water/ Propanol The dye is throughout, but unequally distributed more so towards the
bottom.

Water/ Butanol Two distinct layers with the dye settled in the

Discussion: With the first part of this lab dealing with the miscibility based on molecular

polarity the descriptions in Table 3 describe the observations. From these observations, it can be

concluded that system one was miscible and systems two and three were immiscible. It can also

be concluded that methanol was a polar structure while pentane was not. This matches the

hypothesis stated because different polarities should not mix. The third system allowed the

ranking of the the three substances in order from least polar to most polar. The more definitive

line seen in the pentane/water mixture compared to the pentane/methanol mixture mean that the

water is more polar than the methanol, but the pentane is less polar than the methanol. When the

food dye was added it mixed with the water or the methanol because food coloring is polar,

making it water soluble. In the second part of the lab, when looking at the effects of chain length

on miscibility of alcohol in water, the data in Table 4 supports our hypothesis that the longer the

hydrocarbon chain is in the molecule the less polar the molecule is. This makes sense because

the a hydrocarbon is nonpolar and the tails of these alcohols contain oxygen making the tail

polar. The long the chain the less affect the polar side of the molecule has. The one outlier found
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in the data collected was the methanol. The methanol has the shortest hydrocarbon chain and in

the first part of the lab mixed well with water, but when we tried to recreate this in the second

part layers formed. This could be due to human error and problems with the dye. Using this

knowledge we can predict that even longer hydrocarbon tails on alcohol, like octanol, would

continue to decrease polarity further.

Conclusion: In conclusion, there is a correlation between three dimensional structure and

polarity. In the miscibility based on polarity, the result support the hypothesis that like polarities

can dissolve like polarities, but nonpolar and polar molecules cannot mix. While looking at the

effect of chain length on miscibility of alcohol in water, the longer the hydrocarbon chain was

the less polar the molecule became. Though this was the hypothesis and most of the data

supported it the one problem my lab group faced was that the ethanol looked more soluble in

water than the methanol did in water even though the methanol had the shorter chain length. This

error was most likely due to human nature. The lab ran out of dye and the ethanol mix contained

more dye than the methanol mix. Overall our lab did support our hypothesis.

Work Cited

(n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2017, from

http://intro.chem.okstate.edu/1314F00/Lecture/Chapter10/VSEPR.html

(n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2017, from http://www.tutor-

homework.com/Chemistry_Help/Molecular_Geometry/008_Xenon_Tetrafluoride_XeF4.h

tml

Greeves, N. (n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2017, from

http://www.chemtube3d.com/VSEPRShapeSF4.html

The Unversity of North Carolina at Charlotte, General Chemistry 1251 Lab Manual. 2017