Question

if you wanted to change the polarity of hydrogen bromide (hbr) by substituting the bromine by a different atom. which atom would increase the polarity of the molecule?
sulfur (s)
iodine (i)
hydrogen (h)
chlorine (cl)

Explanation:

Polarity in a molecule is related to the electronegativity difference between the atoms. Chlorine has a higher electronegativity than bromine. When chlorine substitutes bromine in hydrogen - bromide, the electronegativity difference between hydrogen and the substituting atom increases, thus increasing the polarity of the molecule. Sulfur has lower electronegativity than bromine relative to hydrogen, iodine has similar electronegativity to bromine, and substituting with hydrogen would make it non - polar.

Answer:

D. chlorine (Cl)