Question

classify the bond in CO2 as polar covalent, non polar covalent or ionic

Answer 1

In Carbon dioxide,electronegativity difference between carbon and oxygen is 1.0, making it a the polar bond. However, the two polar bonds are at 180 degrees to each other so the dipoles cancel out ,finally making carbon dioxide a non polar covalent.

The Lewis dot structure of carbon dioxide has carbon as the central atom, with double bonds to each of the two oxygen atoms. Each oxygen atom has two non-bonding pairs of electrons,making it sp hybridization which has a linear shape.Each oxygen atom has a partial negative charge, and the carbon has a partial positive charge.But due to symmetry,bond polarities nullifies each other making carbon dioxide a non-polar covalent molecule.