Does CO2 have a polar bond?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 3, 2018

My word....

Explanation:

Carbon is LESS electronegative than oxygen, and the oxygen atoms polarize electron density towards themselves, thus denuding the carbon atom of electron density...

i.e. #stackrel(""^(-)delta)O=stackrel(delta^+)C=stackrel(delta^-)O#

...and charge separation betokens polarity... But because carbon dioxide is a symmetric molecule...the individual dipoles add in a vector fashion to give a non-polar molecule...

The central carbon atom is reactive towards nucleophiles..pouring a Grignard reagent onto dry ice is the classic way to make a carboxylate salt...extending the carbon chain by ONE....

#R^(-)""^(+)MgCl+CO_2(s) stackrel"dry ether"rarrR-CO_2^(-)""^(+)MgCl#

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