Refer to Figure 9.10 to estimate the percent ionic character of the CO bond.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the electronegativity difference between carbon (C) and oxygen (O). The electronegativity of carbon is approximately 2.55 and that of oxygen is approximately 3.44.
2. Calculate the electronegativity difference: Δχ = χ(O) - χ(C).
3. Locate the calculated electronegativity difference on the x-axis of the provided graph.
4. Draw a vertical line from the calculated electronegativity difference on the x-axis up to the curve that represents the percent ionic character.
5. Estimate the percent ionic character by drawing a horizontal line from the intersection point on the curve to the y-axis.

Key Concepts

Ionic Character

Ionic character refers to the degree to which a bond between two atoms exhibits ionic properties, as opposed to covalent properties. It is influenced by the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms involved in the bond. A higher ionic character indicates a greater transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of charged ions.

Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond. It is a key factor in determining the type of bond that will form between two atoms. The greater the difference in electronegativity between two bonded atoms, the more ionic the bond is likely to be, as one atom will more strongly attract the shared electrons.

Percent Ionic Character vs. Electronegativity Difference

The graph illustrates the relationship between the percent ionic character of a bond and the electronegativity difference between the two atoms. As the electronegativity difference increases, the percent ionic character also tends to increase, indicating that bonds with larger differences in electronegativity are more ionic in nature. This relationship helps predict the behavior of various compounds based on their constituent elements.