Moderate

CO₂ and SO₂ are two compounds. Which of the following best describes these two compounds?

Correct answer: C. CO2 in linear and non-polar SO2 is angular and polar

  • A. Both CO2 and SO2 are linear and non polar
  • B. CO2 is angular and polar SO2 is linear and non-polar
  • C. CO2 in linear and non-polar SO2 is angular and polar
  • D. Both CO2 and SO2 are angular and polar

Explanation

In CO2, two oxygen atoms are bonded with carbon atom and the geometry will be linear.O=C=OBut, in SO2, although 2 oxygen atoms are bonded with sulphur but due to presence of lone pair on sulphur, the geometry will be angular ( 2 bond pairs and 1 lone pair.)In CO2, both oxygen atoms exert equal and opposite force on carbon atoms, hence cancel out each other's effect. So, CO2 is non - polar.While, in SO2, cancellation does not occur, so SO2 is polar in nature.Hence, option C is correct.

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