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Mistake Master · AP Chemistry · Unit 2 · Step-Through Animation

Two Formulas That Match, Two Shapes That Do Not

You'll learnhow counting electron domains around the central atom gives you a molecule's shape.

CO2 and H2O are both a central atom with two others stuck on it. One is a straight line and the other is bent, and the formula never says which. Twelve short steps; press Next for each one.

12 STEPS · 6 QUICK CHECKS · H2O vs CO2 · v4

count the electron domains · read the shape off the atoms
Before you start
What you're looking at
CO2 and H2O written flat as identical-looking formulas, each with its shape hidden.
The question
Why is CO2 a straight line and H2O bent when their formulas look the same?
Step 1 / 12