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How might a molecule with two strong bond dipoles have no molecular dipole at all?

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User Pulse
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1 Answer

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A molecule with two strong bond dipoles can have no molecular dipole if the bond dipoles cancel each other out by pointing in exactly opposite directions. For example, in carbon dioxide (a linear molecule), the carbon-oxygen bonds have a large dipole moment. However, because one dipole points to the left and the other to the right the dipole is cancelled.
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User Mcfinnigan
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