Which compound will have the most polarization?

A. Magnesium telluride

B. Magnesium selenide

C. Magnesium sulfide

D. Magnesium oxide

Option D. Magnesium oxide.

Explanation:

The polarization of a compound is determined by the formation of dipoles which is the result of the difference in electronegativities between the bonds.

Since all the compounds are with magnesium, you can use the periodic trend of the other elements, i. e. tellurium, selenium, sulfur and oxygen to determine which one has the most electronegativiy difference when bonded to magnesium.

Oxygen, sulfur, selenium, and tellurium are all in the same group of the periodic table, group 16.

In a group the electronegativy decreases when you move down the grpup, so the most electronegative of all those four elements is oxygen.

Now you can conclude that the compound of magnesium with oxygen, magnesium oxide (option D), will be have the most polarization of the four given compounds.