linear
For molecules with more than two atoms, the molecular geometry must also be taken into account when determining if the molecule is polar or nonpolar. The Figure below shows a comparison between carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide CO 2 is a linear molecule. The oxygen atoms are more electronegative than the carbon atom, so there are two individual dipoles pointing outward from the C atom to each O atom. However, since the dipoles are of equal strength and are oriented in this way, they cancel each other out and the overall molecular polarity of CO 2 is zero.