Is NO2 polar or nonpolar?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether the molecule nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is polar or nonpolar. This involves examining the molecular geometry and the electronegativity of the atoms involved to determine the dipole moment.
Answer
polar
The final answer is polar
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is polar
More Information
NO2 is polar because it has a bent shape and the electronegativity difference between nitrogen and oxygen creates dipole moments that do not cancel out.
Tips
Many students mistakenly think that any molecule with polar bonds is necessarily polar. The shape of the molecule also plays a crucial role in determining polarity.
Sources
- CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY - Laurence Lavelle - lavelle.chem.ucla.edu
- What makes NO2 polar? - quora.com