COMPOUNDS 5.7 - Polarity of Molecules
COMPOUNDS
5.7 - Polarity of Molecules
Polarity of CO2
It is a well-known scientific fact that:
| Carbon dioxide, CO2, is a linear, symmetrical and nonpolar molecule. The bonds between carbon and oxygen are double bonds. |
Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon. So, each carbon-oxygen double (C=O) is polar covalent with a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom.
Carbon dioxide has two polar covalent bonds and yet it is a nonpolar molecule |
Let's add up all the bond dipole moments in carbon dioxide.
There is no net dipole moment. CO2 is a nonpolar molecule.
