Question

question 11 · 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 ($C = O$) has a polar nature because of the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond. Oxygen has a higher electronegativity value (approx 3.44) compared to carbon (approx 2.55). This means that in the $C = O$ bond, the oxygen atom pulls the shared electrons more towards itself, creating a partial negative charge ($\delta -$) on the oxygen atom and a partial positive charge ($\delta +$) on the carbon atom. This separation of charges makes the carbonyl group polar.

• Option 1: Carbon is not more electronegative than oxygen.
• Option 3: Oxygen is not electropositive (electropositive means tendency to donate electrons, while oxygen is electronegative).
• Option 4: Since option 2 is correct, this option is wrong.

Answer:

Oxygen is significantly more electronegative than carbon.