Why is a molecule of CO2 nonpolar even though the bonds between the carbon atom and the oxygen atoms are polar?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 12, 2017

Because the C=O dipoles are horizontally opposed..........

Explanation:

......and their VECTOR sum gives no resultant dipole.

CO2 is a linear molecule, and the ∠O−C−O is 180∘. Dipoles are vector quantities; they have magnitide and direction. While there is charge separation, i.e. polarity, in an individual C=O bond, the resultant vector from the sum of the individual bond dipoles in the δ−O=Cδ+=Oδ− molecule is clearly ZERO. The same thing is observed with the CCl4 molecule, but not with the CHCl3 or CH2Cl2 molecule. Capisce?

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