Name: Date:
Student Exploration: Polarity and Intermolecular Forces
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: dipole, dipole-dipole force, dipole-induced dipole force, electronegativity, intermolecular force,
ionic bond, London dispersion force, molecule, nonpolar, nonpolar covalent bond, partial charges, polar, polar
covalent bond, valence electron
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. A big bully is having a tug-of-war with a small child. There is a ball
attached to the middle of the rope.
Toward whom will the ball move?
2. Two equally strong kids are having a tug-of-war. What do you expect to happen to the ball in this situation?
Gizmo Warm-up
Just like in a tug-of-war, atoms that are bonded to one another pull on the electrons
they share. In the Polarity and Intermolecular Forces Gizmo, you will explore how
these opposing forces relate to bond types and the forces between molecules.
To begin, drag the Na (sodium) and Cl (chlorine) atoms into the simulation area.
Turn on Show valence electrons. A valence electron is found in the outermost
energy level of the atom.
1. Click Play ( ). What do you notice?
2. Which atom seems to be pulling more on the sodium’s one valence electron? How do you know?
3. What happens to the colors of the simulated atoms, and what does this indicate?
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
, Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● On the BOND POLARITY tab, click Reset ( ).
Bond polarity
● Drag the atoms out of the simulation area.
Introduction: A neutral atom has the same number of protons as electrons. Atoms that gain electrons become
negatively charged, while those that lose electrons become positive. A polar bond forms when shared
electrons are pulled closer to one atom than another, causing the bonded atoms to become partially charged.
In a nonpolar bond, electrons are shared equally.
Question: What causes bonds to be polar or nonpolar?
1. Observe: Select the Show polar molecule inset checkbox. The animation shows the probable location of
electrons (orange dots) in a polar molecule.
A. What do you notice about the
distribution of the electrons?
B. How does this electron distribution
affect the charges of the bonded
atoms?
2. Observe: Turn on the Show nonpolar molecule inset.
A. How are the electrons in this
molecule distributed?
B. Why do the bonded atoms remain
neutral?
3. Experiment: Turn off Show polar molecule inset and Show nonpolar molecule inset. Check that Show
valence electrons is turned on. Drag the Mg and O atoms into the simulation area. Click Play. Note the
colors. Red indicates a negative charge, while blue indicates a positive charge.
A. What type of bond forms?
B. Try several other metal/nonmetal combinations. What do you notice about the valence electrons?
Ionic bonds are polar bonds that form between metal and nonmetal atoms. In this bond, valence electrons
are transferred from a metal to a nonmetal. Drag each of these metal/nonmetal combinations into
the Ionic bond bin on the upper right.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
Student Exploration: Polarity and Intermolecular Forces
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: dipole, dipole-dipole force, dipole-induced dipole force, electronegativity, intermolecular force,
ionic bond, London dispersion force, molecule, nonpolar, nonpolar covalent bond, partial charges, polar, polar
covalent bond, valence electron
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. A big bully is having a tug-of-war with a small child. There is a ball
attached to the middle of the rope.
Toward whom will the ball move?
2. Two equally strong kids are having a tug-of-war. What do you expect to happen to the ball in this situation?
Gizmo Warm-up
Just like in a tug-of-war, atoms that are bonded to one another pull on the electrons
they share. In the Polarity and Intermolecular Forces Gizmo, you will explore how
these opposing forces relate to bond types and the forces between molecules.
To begin, drag the Na (sodium) and Cl (chlorine) atoms into the simulation area.
Turn on Show valence electrons. A valence electron is found in the outermost
energy level of the atom.
1. Click Play ( ). What do you notice?
2. Which atom seems to be pulling more on the sodium’s one valence electron? How do you know?
3. What happens to the colors of the simulated atoms, and what does this indicate?
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
, Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
● On the BOND POLARITY tab, click Reset ( ).
Bond polarity
● Drag the atoms out of the simulation area.
Introduction: A neutral atom has the same number of protons as electrons. Atoms that gain electrons become
negatively charged, while those that lose electrons become positive. A polar bond forms when shared
electrons are pulled closer to one atom than another, causing the bonded atoms to become partially charged.
In a nonpolar bond, electrons are shared equally.
Question: What causes bonds to be polar or nonpolar?
1. Observe: Select the Show polar molecule inset checkbox. The animation shows the probable location of
electrons (orange dots) in a polar molecule.
A. What do you notice about the
distribution of the electrons?
B. How does this electron distribution
affect the charges of the bonded
atoms?
2. Observe: Turn on the Show nonpolar molecule inset.
A. How are the electrons in this
molecule distributed?
B. Why do the bonded atoms remain
neutral?
3. Experiment: Turn off Show polar molecule inset and Show nonpolar molecule inset. Check that Show
valence electrons is turned on. Drag the Mg and O atoms into the simulation area. Click Play. Note the
colors. Red indicates a negative charge, while blue indicates a positive charge.
A. What type of bond forms?
B. Try several other metal/nonmetal combinations. What do you notice about the valence electrons?
Ionic bonds are polar bonds that form between metal and nonmetal atoms. In this bond, valence electrons
are transferred from a metal to a nonmetal. Drag each of these metal/nonmetal combinations into
the Ionic bond bin on the upper right.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
