When determining partial negatives and partial positives, does the partial postive go with the more electronegative atom? Ex: C=O, the polarity arrow goes toward the O because its more electronegative than the C but which atom gets the partial negative and which has the partial positive?

1 answer

The dipole moment by convention points to the more positive region, in the case of CO, it will point toward the C from the O. The atom gaining electrons (more electronegative) is the partial negative.