Carbon-Bromine Bond Polarity

[Teleologist]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Why is this bond considered polar? Does this have to do with reaction rates in bromobenzene?

 

[DrknoSDN]

Why is this bond considered polar? Does this have to do with reaction rates in bromobenzene?

Bromine is more electronegative than carbon? Puts a partial positive charge on carbon and partial negative on bromine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bond
Wiki says a electronegativity difference of between 0.4 and 2.0 defines a polar bond. (I didn't investigate the validity of this claim)
C-Br is 2.55-2.96 for a total difference of 0.41 (polar)

 

[Teleologist]

C-Br is 2.55-2.96 for a total difference of 0.41 (polar)

That's a bit arbitrary; I've seen <0.5 being defined as non-polar.

 

[DrknoSDN]

That's a bit arbitrary; I've seen <0.5 being defined as non-polar.

I agree. I'm not sure where the official rule is stated, but some arbitrary demarcation is probably what determines polar vs non-polar for scientific literature.