Question

question 13·1 point
why is a carbonyl group polar?
select the correct answer below:
carbon is significantly more electronegative than oxygen.
oxygen is significantly more electronegative than carbon.
oxygen is significantly more electropositive than carbon.
none of the above

Explanation:

A carbonyl group (\(C = O\)) is polar because of the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. Oxygen has a higher electronegativity (\(3.44\)) than carbon (\(2.55\)). This means that in the \(C = O\) bond, oxygen attracts the shared electrons more strongly than carbon. As a result, the oxygen atom has a partial negative charge (\(\delta-\)) and the carbon atom has a partial positive charge (\(\delta+\)), creating a dipole moment and making the carbonyl group polar.

• Option A is incorrect because carbon is less electronegative than oxygen.
• Option C is incorrect because oxygen is not electropositive; it is electronegative.
• Option D is incorrect because option B is correct.

Answer:

B. Oxygen is significantly more electronegative than carbon.