World 1 · Atoms & Bonds · 7 minBuild lab: CO₂ & NH₃
Linear vs pyramidal
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Time to build two very different shapes and feel the difference. Carbon dioxide has no lone pairs on its carbon, so its two double bonds stretch out perfectly straight — a linear molecule. Ammonia has a lone pair on its nitrogen that pushes the three N–H bonds down into a pyramid.
Check yourself
Why is CO₂ linear but NH₃ pyramidal?
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