Determine if carbon dioxide, CO₂, is polar or nonpolar.

• A. polar
• B. nonpolar

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the molecular geometry of CO2. Carbon dioxide has a linear shape because it consists of a central carbon atom double-bonded to two oxygen atoms.
2. Consider the electronegativity of the atoms involved. Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, which means the oxygen atoms will attract the shared electrons more strongly, creating polar bonds.
3. Analyze the symmetry of the molecule. In a linear molecule like CO2, the two polar bonds are directly opposite each other.
4. Evaluate the net dipole moment. Due to the linear shape and the equal and opposite polar bonds, the dipoles cancel each other out.
5. Conclude that CO2 is nonpolar because the molecule is symmetrical, and the dipole moments cancel, resulting in no overall dipole moment.