Chemistry / Unit 6 Chem 1063 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Polar Bonds Can Cancel to a Nonpolar Molecule
Captions available
The idea
A molecule with polar bonds arranged symmetrically around its central atom has bond dipoles that cancel, leaving the whole molecule nonpolar.
In practice
Carbon dioxide's two polar C=O bonds point in exactly opposite directions across its linear geometry, canceling to a net dipole of zero.
Where people slip
Carbon dioxide's individual bonds are genuinely polar — only the symmetric linear arrangement makes the whole molecule nonpolar.
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