Question

The study of dipole moment of a molecule is useful to explain the shape of a molecule and also to predict a number of other properties of the molecule. The net dipole moment of a polyatomic is the resultant of the different bond dipole moments present in that molecule.
Answer the following questions on the basis of above paragraph :
(i) What is dipole moment ?
(ii) Out of `CO_(2)and H_(2)O,` which molecule is polar in nature any why ?

Answer 1

(ii) `H_(2)O` molecule is polar where as `CO_(2)` is non-polar though both are triatomic molecules. Actually `H_(2)O` has bent structure and the polarities of the O-H bonds donot cance. On the other hand `CO_(2)` is linear and as a result of this, the polarities of C=O bonds mutually cencel out.