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Bonding and structure

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Question 3

Which statement correctly explains, in terms of bonding and structure, why carbon dioxide (CO2\text{CO}_2CO2​) acts as a greenhouse gas by absorbing infrared (IR) radiation, while nitrogen (N2\text{N}_2N2​) does not?

CO2\text{CO}_2CO2​ contains polar bonds and vibrates in ways that cause a change in its molecular dipole moment, whereas the vibration of the non-polar bond in N2\text{N}_2N2​ causes no change in dipole moment.

CO2\text{CO}_2CO2​ has a permanent dipole moment due to its linear structure, whereas N2\text{N}_2N2​ has no dipole moment due to its triple bond.

Infrared radiation has high enough energy to break the double bonds in CO2\text{CO}_2CO2​, but cannot break the stronger triple bond in N2\text{N}_2N2​.

The symmetric stretching vibration of CO2\text{CO}_2CO2​ creates a temporary dipole moment, making it IR active, while N2\text{N}_2N2​ can only undergo asymmetric stretching.

Bonding and structure Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Chemistry
  3. /Bonding and structure