Is Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF₃) Polar or Nonpolar?

Is Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF₃) polar or nonpolar?

NF₃ has three polar N–F bonds (ΔEN = 0.94) in a pyramidal shape. Unlike NH₃, the lone pair opposes the bond dipoles (both point away from N), resulting in a surprisingly small net dipole.

FormulaNF₃
PolarityPolar
Molecular GeometryTrigonal Pyramidal
N–F BondΔEN = 0.94 (polar)
Net DipoleYes

Bond Dipoles

Each N–F bond has ΔEN = 0.94 (F = 3.98, N = 3.04). Fluorine pulls electron density away from nitrogen in each bond.

Molecular Shape & Dipole Cancellation

NF₃ is trigonal pyramidal, like ammonia. But here the bond dipoles point toward the F atoms (away from N), while the lone pair also points away from N - they partially oppose each other.

Net Dipole Moment

The lone pair dipole partially cancels the bond dipoles, giving NF₃ a very small net dipole (0.23 D vs 1.47 D for NH₃). NF₃ is technically polar but barely so.

See bond dipoles, partial charges, and net dipole moments on interactive 3D molecules.

Visualize Nitrogen Trifluoride's Polarity in 3D

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