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Chemistry · L4 · Is a molecule polar? Bond dipoles as vectors

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A decision path from bond polarity through molecular geometry to net dipole moment — showing why CO₂ is nonpolar despite polar bonds while water is polar.

by @openstemUpdated Chemistry
Do the bonded atoms differin electronegativity?No bond dipole here(treat this bond as nonpolar)Each polar bond has adipole vector μ, pointing towardthe more electronegative atomWhat is the moleculargeometry? (VSEPR)Bond dipole vectorssum to zeroBond dipole vectorsdo not cancelNet dipole moment = 0NONPOLAR moleculeNet dipole moment is nonzeroPOLAR moleculeNoYesSymmetric — linear CO₂, tetrahedral CH₄, trigonal planar BF₃Asymmetric — bent H₂O, trigonal pyramidal NH₃

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