Consider the structure of acetic acid shown below. In the electrostatic potential map of acetic acid, in which of the following bonds would the terminal atom appear as the deepest shade of red?

Question

Consider the structure of acetic acid shown below.  In the electrostatic potential map of acetic acid, in which of the following bonds would the terminal atom appear as the deepest shade of red?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The terminal atom that would appear as the deepest shade of red in the electrostatic potential map is the oxygen atom in the C=O bond. This is because oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, and therefore pulls electron density away from the carbon and towards itself. This results in a greater concentration of negative charge (i.e. red color) around the oxygen atom.

Consider the Structure of Acetic Acid Shown Below