Problem 1.3: Both water HO and carbon dioxide CO contain
From Chapter 1 Problem Set. Level 1: Conceptual Mastery.
Question
Both water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) contain polar covalent bonds, yet only water is a polar molecule. Why?
Answer
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CO₂ is linear - its two polar bonds point in opposite directions and cancel. Water is bent at 104.5°, so its polar bonds point in the same general direction and the charge imbalance survives. Geometry determines whether local polarity becomes molecular polarity.