Linear Shape

[Riya Sood 4G]

Are linear shapes always nonpolar ? are there any exceptions?

[jisulee1C]

Even though shape of linear is non polar if there are different atoms on each side of the central atom then even if the shape is non polar there will be unequal dipoles and therefore the molecule can be polar an example might be HCN.

[Adelpha Chan 1B]

Are linear shapes always nonpolar ? are there any exceptions?

linear shapes are only nonpolar if both atoms bonded to the central atom exhibit the same amount of potential energy.
In the example of HCN, N exhibits a partial negative charge while H exhibits a partial positive charge as N has more electrons and therefore has a stronger pull. As a result, this is a polar molecule with a linear shape

[Heba Mengesha 3D]

A linear shape may or may not be polar depending on if the molecule is symmetrical or not.

[EvanWang]

Only if the bonded atoms on either side of the central atom are the same will the molecule be nonpolar. If the bonded atoms are different, there will be a net dipole moment.

[Robert Tran 1B]

A linear bond can be polar if the dipole moments are unequal, and therefore, do not cancel out.

[Deana Moghaddas 3E]

the molecule will maintain its linear shape even when its polar because the dipole moments may not be that large/attractive enough to change the shape in any way