Chemistry Tutorial

Problem 14: Electronegativity

Carbon and oxygen have electronegativities of 2.5 and 3.5 respectively. Which atom would make a covalent bond with hydrogen (electronegativity= 2.1) that has a higher degree of polarity?

C.	neither, only ionic bonds can produce a polar or charge separation effect..
	Incorrect. Covalent bonds between hydrogen and carbon or between hydrogen and oxygen have dramatically different polarities. C-H bonds are hydrophobic while O-H bonds are hydrophilic or polar.