MOLECULAR POLARITYFIELD NOTE 98 / 175
Is COS polar or nonpolar?
COS is polar because its straight O=C=S structure has different atoms at the two ends.
Carbonyl Sulfide · linear
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 COS is polar
The molecule is linear, but the C=O and C=S bonds are not equal dipoles because oxygen and sulfur differ. The two ends cannot cancel as equal opposite bonds do in CO2 or CS2.
What to notice
COS sits between the familiar CO2 and CS2 examples: all three are linear, yet only the mixed O/S termini leave a net molecular dipole.
Common questions about COS
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of COS show?
The common connectivity is O=C=S, with a double bond to each terminal atom. O and S each have two lone pairs.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of COS?
COS has a linear molecular geometry. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 180°. These angles come from the displayed model coordinates.
- 03
What is the molar mass of COS?
COS has an approximate molar mass of 60.07 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.