Explain why CO₂ and CCl₄ are both nonpol...

Question

Explain why CO₂ and CCl₄ are both nonpolar even though they contain polar bonds.

Accepted Answer

Identify the molecular geometry of CO₂. Carbon dioxide has a linear molecular shape with the carbon atom in the center and oxygen atoms at both ends. The bond angles are 180 degrees.. Analyze the molecular geometry of CCl₄. Carbon tetrachloride has a tetrahedral shape with the carbon atom in the center and four chlorine atoms at the corners. The bond angles are approximately 109.5 degrees.. Understand the concept of bond polarity. Both CO₂ and CCl₄ have polar bonds. In CO₂, the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen creates polar bonds. In CCl₄, the difference in electronegativity between carbon and chlorine also results in polar bonds.. Examine the symmetry of the molecules. The symmetry of a molecule plays a crucial role in determining its overall polarity. In CO₂, the linear shape and equal bond polarities pointing in opposite directions cancel each other out, resulting in a nonpolar molecule. In CCl₄, the symmetrical tetrahedral shape with equal bond polarities directed toward the corners of a regular tetrahedron also results in cancellation of dipole moments, making the molecule nonpolar.. Conclude that despite containing polar bonds, the overall molecular polarity of CO₂ and CCl₄ is determined by their symmetrical geometric shapes, which allow the dipole moments to cancel out, resulting in nonpolar molecules.

Explain why CO₂ and CCl₄ are both nonpolar even though they contain polar bonds.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Polar and Nonpolar Bonds

Molecular Geometry

Dipole Moment Cancellation

Explain why CO2 and CCl4 are both nonpolar even though they contain polar bonds.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Polar and Nonpolar Bonds

Molecular Geometry

Dipole Moment Cancellation

Explain why CO₂ and CCl₄ are both nonpolar even though they contain polar bonds.