Why o3 is polar

Why is ozone molecule polar? Nov 27, Related questions How do I determine the molecular shape of a molecule? What is the lewis structure for co2? What is the lewis structure for hcn? Within the atmosphere where it exists naturally as described above O3 serves to absorb much of the UV radiation that reaches earth. This mitigates the effects of light rays that would alternatively cause skin and DNA damage for human cells.

Certain compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons, molecules containing the halogens fluorine and chlorine along with carbon, create the kinds of "free radicals" necessary to convert O3 back into O2 in the upper atmosphere. This in turn degrades the ozone layer and leaves life exposed to the dangerous effects of the higher-energy UV rays. Ozone is also utilized for wastewater treatment and other types of deep cleaning since it has a capacity to interfere with carbon-carbon bonds.

This makes it useful in destroying certain organic life. Each of these atoms has 2 lone pairs on each other but as there are only 2 atoms in this molecule, O2 is linear in shape. Also, the atoms are the same i.

Therefore, the O2 molecule comes out to be non-polar. But the case of O3 is different as there are 3 atoms due to which it has a bent shape. This bent shape results in net electric dipole which imparts polar nature in the O3 molecule.

The Ozone molecule does not maintain any symmetry, it is bent in shape due to unequal lone pairs on all the oxygen atoms. It is very well known that lone pair-lone pair repulsion is greater than bond pair-bond pair and lone pair-bond pair repulsion. Therefore, Oxygen atoms in Ozone face lone pair-lone pair repulsion that leads to a bent shape. The outer oxygen atom that is connected to the central atom has a partial negative charge as it contains more lone pairs than other Oxygen atoms.

While the center Oxygen atom has a partial positive charge on it. The polar molecule always has a net dipole moment value. For example, the dipole moment of ozone is 0. The net dipole moment of a nonpolar molecule comes out to be 0 D. Greater the net dipole moment value, more is the polarity of the molecule. In a molecule, if there is a difference in electronegativities of both atoms then the bond shared by both is polar.

Greater the difference in electronegativities of atoms more is the overall polarity. If we look at the structure of an Oxygen molecule, both oxygen atoms have the same electronegativity. Thus, O2 is nonpolar. Quick links. Email Link. Ozone and polarity Post by » Mon Dec 03, am Still a little confused about why ozone O3 is considered polar according to the solutions manual.