Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the formula CO₂. It consists of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. The carbon atom is in the center, with oxygen atoms on both sides, forming a linear molecule.
The chemical formula CO₂ provides important information about carbon dioxide's composition. The letter C represents one carbon atom, while O₂ indicates two oxygen atoms. This means each molecule of carbon dioxide contains exactly three atoms total.
Looking at the atomic structure, carbon has 6 protons and 6 electrons, while each oxygen atom has 8 protons and 8 electrons. These atoms bond together through shared electrons to form the stable CO₂ molecule.
Carbon dioxide has a linear molecular geometry. The carbon atom is in the center with oxygen atoms on opposite sides, forming a straight line with a 180-degree bond angle. This linear arrangement makes CO₂ a symmetrical molecule with no net dipole moment.
To summarize, carbon dioxide is composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms, forming the chemical formula CO₂. This gives us a total of three atoms per molecule arranged in a linear geometry with a 180-degree bond angle. Understanding this composition helps us appreciate how this simple yet important compound functions in nature and industry.