Why is the oxidation state of carbon in carbon monoxide +2? Why does its dipole moment point from oxygen to carbon? [duplicate]








**This question already has answers here**:
 
 




[How can the dipole moment of carbon monoxide be rationalised by molecular orbital theory?](/questions/30797/how-can-the-dipole-moment-of-carbon-monoxide-be-rationalised-by-molecular-orbita)

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[Why is CO practically nonpolar?](/questions/35603/why-is-co-practically-nonpolar)

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Closed 7 years ago.



Shouldn't it be +3 since 3 of its electrons are being pulled away by the electronegative oxygen?
Also, shouldn't the dipole moment point from the carbon to the oxygen since most of the electron density in this molecule is surrounding the more electronegative oxygen?


