Question

test: covalent compounds
which is the correct molecular structure for carbon dioxide, co₂?
o
o
o
o

Explanation:

Carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)) has a central carbon atom. Carbon has 4 valence electrons. Each oxygen atom has 6 valence electrons. In \(CO_2\), carbon forms double bonds (\(C = O\)) with two oxygen atoms. Also, each oxygen atom has 2 lone pairs of electrons. The first option has sulfur (\(S\)) instead of carbon (\(C\)), so it is wrong. The fourth option has a triple bond (\(C\equiv O\)) which is incorrect for \(CO_2\). The third option has an unequal number of lone - pairs on oxygen atoms (one oxygen has 3 lone pairs and the other has 2, which is not in line with the correct Lewis structure of \(CO_2\)). The second option has the correct \(O = C=O\) structure with each oxygen having 2 lone pairs.

Answer:

The second option (the one with \(O = C = O\) and each oxygen having 2 lone pairs).