Is Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Polar or Nonpolar?

Is Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) polar or nonpolar?

CO₂ has two very polar C=O bonds (ΔEN = 0.89), but the linear geometry (180°) means the two dipoles point in exactly opposite directions and cancel completely.

FormulaCO₂
PolarityNonpolar
Molecular GeometryLinear
C=O BondΔEN = 0.89 (polar)
Net DipoleNo - dipoles cancel

Bond Dipoles

Each C=O bond has an electronegativity difference of 0.89 - these are significantly polar bonds. Oxygen pulls electron density away from carbon in both directions.

Molecular Shape & Dipole Cancellation

CO₂ is perfectly linear (180°). The two C=O bonds point in exactly opposite directions from the central carbon. This is the key to understanding its nonpolarity.

Net Dipole Moment

The two equal-and-opposite C=O dipoles cancel exactly to zero. Despite having very polar bonds, CO₂ is a nonpolar molecule. This is the classic example of how molecular geometry determines polarity.

See bond dipoles, partial charges, and net dipole moments on interactive 3D molecules.

Visualize Carbon Dioxide's Polarity in 3D

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