Determine if difluorine selenide, F₂Se, is polar or nonpolar.

• A. polar
• B. nonpolar

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the molecular geometry of difluorine selenide (F₂Se). Selenium (Se) is the central atom, and it is bonded to two fluorine (F) atoms.
2. Determine the number of valence electrons for each atom. Selenium has 6 valence electrons, and each fluorine has 7 valence electrons.
3. Draw the Lewis structure for F₂Se. Place selenium in the center with a single bond to each fluorine atom, and distribute the remaining electrons to satisfy the octet rule.
4. Analyze the molecular shape using VSEPR theory. With two bonding pairs and two lone pairs on the central selenium atom, the shape is bent or angular.
5. Evaluate the electronegativity difference between selenium and fluorine. Since fluorine is more electronegative, the bonds are polar. The bent shape means the dipoles do not cancel, resulting in a polar molecule.