Question

Does CO2 have a polar bond?

Answer 1

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`