Q.Give reasons for:
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Step 1(a). Sigma stronger than pi. A sigma bond forms from direct, end-on (axial) orbital overlap along the internuclear axis, which is more extensive/effective than the sideways (lateral) overlap that forms a pi bond; greater overlap always gives a stronger bond (VB theory postulate iv, section 5.4.1), so sigma bonds are stronger than pi bonds.
Step 2(b). HF is polar. Fluorine is considerably more electronegative than hydrogen, so the shared H-F electron pair is pulled noticeably closer to fluorine, giving F a partial negative charge (δ−) and H a partial positive charge (δ+) — this charge separation (dipole) is exactly the definition of a polar covalent bond (section 5.6.5); HF's actual dipole moment is 1.91 D (Table 5.8). …
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