Which of the following molecules has a linear structure?
Question 1 Report
Which of the following molecules has a linear structure?
Answer Details
The molecule with a linear structure is CO2.
A molecule's structure depends on the arrangement of atoms in the molecule and the bonds between them. In CO2, there are two oxygen atoms bonded to a central carbon atom. The bond between each oxygen atom and the carbon atom is double-bonded, which means they share two pairs of electrons. This double bond arrangement forces the molecule to be linear in shape.
In contrast, NH3 and CH4 have a tetrahedral shape due to the presence of lone pairs on the central atom, which cause the atoms to spread out. Water (H2O) also has a bent shape because of its lone pairs and its two single bonds.
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