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Which one of the following molecules is polar?
1) H₂O
2) CO₂
3) CH₄
4) N₂

User PyRabbit
by
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1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

H₂O (water) is a polar molecule, while CO₂ (carbon dioxide) is nonpolar.

Step-by-step explanation:

A molecule is considered polar if it has a separation of positive and negative charges due to an uneven distribution of electron density. From the given options, the molecule H₂O (water) is polar. Water has a bent molecular geometry and the oxygen atom pulls electrons more strongly than the hydrogen atoms, creating a partial negative charge on the oxygen and partial positive charges on the hydrogens.

In contrast, CO₂ (carbon dioxide) is nonpolar. CO₂ has a linear molecular geometry, and although the carbon-oxygen bonds are polar, the overall molecule is symmetric, resulting in the cancellation of the dipole moments and no net overall charge separation.

User Neeraj Mehta
by
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