Dipole Moment of CO

[Michelle Dong 1F]

How does CO have a dipole moment if the Lewis structure shows that the shape is linear?

[Kaylin Krahn 1I]

CO can be linear and have a dipole moment because it is not cancelling out. The oxygen will "pull" on the carbon creating a dipole moment. In comparison, CO2 does not have a dipole moment because it is linear and the bond dipoles cancel each other out.

[Thuy-Anh Bui 1I]

The difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen creates a small dipole moment. Only diatomic atoms (like O2) are truly covalent.

[Pooja Nair 1C]

The shape doesn't necessarily affect whether or not there exists a dipole moment or not. Instead, look at the formal charges or the electronegativity of the atoms. Although oxygen is more electronegative, the bonding and formal charge in the case of CO breaks the rule. Carbon is slightly negative because its formal charge is -1 and oxygen is slightly positive as its formal charge is +1