No, carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) do not have the same empirical formula. The empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound. The empirical formula of carbon dioxide is CO2, indicating that it consists of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. On the other hand, the empirical formula of sulfur dioxide is SO2, indicating one sulfur atom bonded to two oxygen atoms.
Regarding their polarity, carbon dioxide is indeed a non-polar molecule, while sulfur dioxide is considered a polar molecule. Polarity in molecules arises due to differences in electronegativity between atoms and the molecule's overall molecular geometry.
In carbon dioxide, the carbon-oxygen bonds are highly polar due to the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen. However, the molecule as a whole is non-polar because it has a linear molecular geometry. The polar bonds in carbon dioxide cancel each other out, resulting in a net dipole moment of zero.
In contrast, sulfur dioxide has a bent or V-shaped molecular geometry. The sulfur-oxygen bonds are polar, and the molecule has a net dipole moment. This is because the sulfur atom is less electronegative than oxygen, creating an uneven distribution of electron density in the molecule. The oxygen atoms have a partial negative charge, and the sulfur atom has a partial positive charge, making sulfur dioxide a polar molecule.
So, while carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide share the same empirical formula, they differ in their polarity due to differences in molecular geometry and electronegativity.