MOLECULAR POLARITYFIELD NOTE 110 / 175
Is H2CO3 polar or nonpolar?
Carbonic Acid (H2CO3) is polar because its carbonyl oxygen differs from the two hydroxyl groups.
Carbonic Acid · trigonal planar around C
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 H2CO3 is polar
Carbonic acid has a central trigonal-planar carbon bonded to one carbonyl oxygen and two O–H oxygens. The three C–O directions are not chemically identical, leaving a molecular dipole.
What to notice
Do not apply the symmetry of carbonate CO3²− to neutral carbonic acid. In water, H2CO3 participates in an equilibrium with dissolved CO2 and bicarbonate.
Common questions about H2CO3
- 01
What does the Lewis structure of H2CO3 show?
The neutral Lewis connectivity is HO–C(=O)–OH. Carbon has four bond-order units; each oxygen carries lone pairs.
- 02
What is the molecular geometry of H2CO3?
H2CO3 has a trigonal planar around C molecular geometry. The 3D model shows representative bond angles of 112° and 109.6°. These angles come from the displayed model coordinates.
- 03
What is the molar mass of H2CO3?
H2CO3 has an approximate molar mass of 62.02 g/mol, calculated from its formula using abridged standard atomic weights. Natural isotope variation can change the last digits.