Question

If a molecule has a net dipole moment, what else do we know about the molecule?

A.It is always linear
B.It is polar
C.It is nonpolar
D.It is carbon dioxide

Answer 1

A molecule with a net dipole moment is polar, signifying uneven distribution of charge. CO2 is nonpolar because its linear shape causes its bond dipoles to cancel, while H2O is polar due to its bent shape preventing cancellation of dipoles.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a molecule has a net dipole moment, we can deduce that the molecule is polar. This means that the molecule has a region of positive charge and a region of negative charge, creating a dipole. For instance, while carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a linear molecule with two polar bonds between carbon and oxygen, the dipoles cancel each other out because they are of equal magnitude and opposite directions, leading to a nonpolar molecule. In contrast, water (H₂O) has a bent shape due to the lone pairs on the oxygen atom, preventing the bond dipoles from cancelling out, which makes water a polar molecule with a net dipole moment.