Chemistry / Chem 1063 · Atom · ~20 seconds
Polar Bonds Can Cancel to a Nonpolar Molecule
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A molecule with polar bonds arranged symmetrically around its central atom has bond dipoles that cancel, leaving the whole molecule nonpolar.
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Carbon dioxide's two polar C=O bonds point in exactly opposite directions across its linear geometry, canceling to a net dipole of zero.
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Carbon dioxide's individual bonds are genuinely polar — only the symmetric linear arrangement makes the whole molecule nonpolar.