COS (carbonyl sulfide) is a polar molecule.
Here’s why:
Structure: COS has a linear structure with the sulfur (S) atom bonded to a carbon (C) atom, which is also bonded to an oxygen (O) atom.
Electronegativity: Oxygen is more electronegative than sulfur and carbon, creating partial charges on the atoms. This results in a dipole moment, with a slight negative charge on the oxygen and a slight positive charge on the carbon.
The molecule has an overall dipole moment due to the difference in electronegativity between the oxygen, carbon, and sulfur atoms.
Thus, COS is polar because of the uneven distribution of electron density, which creates a dipole moment.
