Question

below is the lewis structure of the bicarbonate $(\text{hco}_{3}^{-})$ ion.

count the number of bonding pairs and the number of lone pairs around the top oxygen atom in this molecule.
bonding pairs: 2
lone pairs:

Explanation:

Step1: Understand bonding and lone pairs

Bonding pairs are shared electron pairs between atoms. Lone pairs are unshared electron pairs on an atom.

Step2: Analyze the top oxygen atom

In the Lewis structure of \(HCO_3^-\), the top oxygen atom forms a double - bond with carbon. A double - bond consists of 2 bonding pairs. The remaining electrons on the top oxygen atom are lone pairs. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons. In a double - bond (\(2\) bonding pairs or \(4\) electrons in bonding), the number of lone - pair electrons is \(6 - 4=2\) pairs (since each pair has \(2\) electrons).

Answer:

bonding pairs: \(2\), lone pairs: \(2\)