Why is carbon dioxide a non polar molecule while water ia a polar molecule?

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide is a linear, symetrical molecule (at the centered C in O=C=O)

and water is not linear: the H-O-H bond at the centered O is angled, about 105 degrees

Answer 2

Simply put, polarity depends on how symmetrical a molecule is; the more symmetrical, the more balanced the charge within the structure. A molecule is polar if it has unbalanced charge, for example water, which is v-shaped and has a negative dipole (area of charge) near the oxygen and two smaller, positive dipoles on the hydrogens. Having unbalanced charge within the structure does not make the molecule itself charged; water is still neutral as the -2 charge on the oxygen is neutralised by the +1 charge on each of the two hydrogens. Carbon dioxide is non-polar because it is straight in shape, with an oxygen either side of the carbon, ensuring no dipoles occur. In diagram to demonstrate (imagine lines between the oxygen and hydrogens):):):):):):):):

O=C=O O

H H

Answer 3

Carbon dioxide is non-polar because its has equally shared electrons while water's electrons are shared unevenly. The opposite pulling of carbon dioxide molecules cancels out the charge. Meanwhile, the electrons of hydrogen are pulled toward the oxygen electrons, thus making water a polar molecule.

Answer 4

The amount of molecules do not matter as much as the electronegativity. O is very electronegative while H is not. The difference between them will mean electrons spend more time around O and not as much around H. This creates a partial charge on the molecule. Carbon and oxygen have similar electronegativities. Thus it is not polar.

Answer 5

The key lies in the shape of the molecules. Both the O-H and the C=O bonds are polar, but the arrangement of the atoms is different. Carbon dioxide is linear, O=C=O, so the bond polarities cancel out. Water, however, is shaped like the letter 'V', with the oxygen at the joint of the letter. As the hydrogens are partially positive and the oxygen is partially negative, the molecule is a dipole.

Answer 6

A carbon dioxide molecule is a non polar molecule because of its straight line shape. In contrast, a water molecule is a polar molecule. Because of its bent shape.

Answer 7

Carbon dioxide is linear O=C=O polar bonds while water H-O-H is V-shaped polar bonds.

Answer 8

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