CH3COCH3 (acetone) is a common laboratory solvent that is often used in nail polish remover. Its Lewis structure and space-filling molecular image are shown here:
Acetone is a polar molecule; the oxygen end has a slightly negative charge (oxygen is more electronegative), whereas the carbon and hydrogen end has a slightly positive charge. In liquid acetone, the molecules are attracted to each other via these polar ends-the positive end of one molecule is attracted to the negative end of its neighbor-and, therefore, align as shown here:
Draw a Lewis structure and space-filling molecular image for CH2Cl2 (dichloromethane), another common laboratory solvent. Is the molecule polar? Which end of the molecule has a slightly negative charge? Which end has a slightly positive charge? Draw several space-filling molecular images of CH2Cl2 showing how they align in liquid dichloromethane.
