Home › NEET UG › Chemistry › Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure › The dipole moment of CO₂ is zero because:
The dipole moment of CO₂ is zero because:
AThe molecule is linear and the two equal C=O bond dipoles point in opposite directions and cancel
BC and O have equal electronegativities
CCO₂ has a bent shape
DC–O bonds are non-polar
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The molecule is linear and the two equal C=O bond dipoles point in opposite directions and cancel
CO₂ is **linear (O=C=O)**; the two equal but oppositely directed C=O bond dipoles cancel as vectors, giving net μ = 0 — even though individual C=O bonds *are* polar.
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