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Carbon dioxide molecule model (CO2)
Carbon dioxide is a linear molecule, O=C=O. Its two polar C=O bonds point in opposite directions, so the molecule as a whole is nonpolar, yet it still absorbs infrared light and acts as a greenhouse gas.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: PubChem conformer (CID 280).
Carbon dioxide at a glance
| Formula | CO2 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 44.009 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | carbon dioxide |
| Atoms / bonds | 3 / 2 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 0 / 2 |
| XLogP3 | 0.9 |
| SMILES | C(=O)=O |
| PubChem CID | 280 |
What the 3D model of Carbon dioxide shows
The model contains 3 atoms (3 heavy atoms and 0 hydrogens) joined by 2 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 0 and accept 2 hydrogen bonds, and its PubChem XLogP3 of 0.9 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat solubility. Its topological polar surface area is 34.1 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| C | Linear (AX₂), sp | O=C=O 180°; C=O 116 pm |
Is Carbon dioxide polar?
Nonpolar overall. Each C=O bond is polar, but the dipoles are equal and opposite.
Elemental composition of CO2
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1 | 12.011 | 27.29% |
| Oxygen (O) | 2 | 31.998 | 72.71% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of carbon dioxide
- Carbonated drinks and fire extinguishers
- Dry ice (solid CO₂, sublimes at −78.5 °C) for cooling
- Supercritical CO₂ for decaffeinating coffee and dry cleaning
- Plants fix CO₂ in photosynthesis
Interesting facts
- CO₂ has no liquid phase at 1 atm: the solid sublimes straight to gas.
- Its bending and asymmetric-stretch vibrations absorb infrared radiation, which is why CO₂ is a greenhouse gas.
- Atmospheric CO₂ has risen from about 280 ppm before industrialisation to over 420 ppm today.
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Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
Why is CO₂ linear?
Carbon has two electron domains (two double bonds) and no lone pairs, so they point 180° apart.
If C=O bonds are polar, why is CO₂ nonpolar?
The two bond dipoles are equal and point in exactly opposite directions, so they cancel.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of carbon dioxide?
Carbon dioxide is CO2 with a molar mass of 44.009 g/mol (PubChem CID 280). It contains 3 atoms: 1 carbon, 2 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Carbon dioxide?
The PubChem-computed IUPAC name is carbon dioxide.
How do I make a model of Carbon dioxide?
Rotate the interactive model above to see how its 3 atoms connect, then copy it with a ball-and-stick kit: use the CPK colours shown (carbon grey or black, hydrogen white, oxygen red, nitrogen blue). For a school project, foam balls and toothpicks work well.