MOLECULAR POLARITYFIELD NOTE 81 / 175
Is CH3NO2 polar or nonpolar?
Nitromethane (CH3NO2) is polar because its charged-resonance nitro group produces a strongly polar end.
Nitromethane · tetrahedral at methyl C; planar nitro N
The molecule in space
Drag to turn the molecule. Show angles to read the model geometry.
01 / MODEL RECORDPubChem 3D coordinates. Atom sizes and bond thickness are illustrative.How model data is used ↗
Why CH3NO2 is polar
Nitromethane is a methyl group attached to –NO2. Its oxygen-rich nitro group carries substantial bond polarity and is not canceled by the CH3 group.
What to notice
Nitromethane and methyl nitrite share CH3NO2 but connect differently: C–N in nitromethane versus C–O in methyl nitrite.
Common questions about CH3NO2
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of CH3NO2 show?
One Lewis contributor is CH3–N+(=O)–O−; the double-bonded oxygen and negative oxygen exchange by resonance.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of CH3NO2?
CH3NO2 has a tetrahedral at methyl C; planar nitro N molecular geometry. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 124.1° and 118.1° and 108.6°. These angles come from the displayed model coordinates.
- 03
What is the molar mass of CH3NO2?
CH3NO2 has an approximate molar mass of 61.04 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.