a) Incorrect. CH4 is a tetrahedral molecule.
Each of the bonds is polarized toward the carbon atom. Adding together
any two bond dipoles
gives a subtotal sum halfway between them directed toward the central carbon
atom. When the two subtotal sums are added, they will cancel
each other out (identical forces directed head-to-head) and the molecule
is nonpolar. CH2O is triangular planar. Adding together
the two
C-H bonds gives a subtotal sum halfway between them directed toward the
central carbon atom. When this subtotal sum is added to the
bond dipole for C-O double bond, they don't cancel each other out (in fact,
they reinforce each other) thus the molecule is polar. CH3Cl
is
a tetrahedral molecule. Each of the three C-H bonds is polarized
toward the carbon atom while the C-Cl bond is polarized toward the
chlorine atom. Adding together two C-H bond dipoles gives a subtotal
sum halfway between them directed toward the central carbon
atom. Adding together the third C-H bond and the C-Cl bond dipoles
gives a subtotal sum which won't cancel out the other subtotal
sum (since the combination is different) thus the molecule is polar.