H2O consists of polar molecules. CO2 consists of nonpolar molecules. How do chemists explain this difference?

a CO2 does not have polar bonds.

b These compounds have different shapes.

c Oxygen has a different attraction for electrons in H2O than in CO2

Question

Physics

Johanna Campos

22 November, 18:57

H2O consists of polar molecules. CO2 consists of nonpolar molecules. How do chemists explain this difference?

a CO2 does not have polar bonds.

b These compounds have different shapes.

c Oxygen has a different attraction for electrons in H2O than in CO2

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Answers (1)

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Katrina Carr · Answer 1

C. Oxygen has a different attraction for electrons in H2O than in CO2

the covalent bond between Hydrogen-Oxygen and Carbon-Oxygen is different because the difference of electronegativity (the tendency of an atom to attract a shared pair of electrons towards itself) between Hydrogen and Oxygen is a lot higher than the difference of electronegativity between Carbon and Oxygen. This difference in electronegativity results in separation of partial electric charge creating polar bonds and giving the molecule a polarity.

H2O consists of polar molecules. CO2 consists of nonpolar molecules. How do chemists explain this difference?a CO2 does not have polar bonds.b These compounds have different shapes.c Oxygen has a different attraction for electrons in H2O than in CO2

H2O consists of polar molecules. CO2 consists of nonpolar molecules. How do chemists explain this difference?

a CO2 does not have polar bonds.

b These compounds have different shapes.

c Oxygen has a different attraction for electrons in H2O than in CO2