Question

Carbon monoxide acts as a donor and reacts with certain metals to give metal carbonyls. This is due to:

• A. presence of one sigma and two pi bonds between C and O$(:C\equiv O:)$
• B. presence of a lone pair on carbon atom in CO molecule
• C. presence of lone pair on oxygen atom in CO molecule
• D. poisonous nature of CO

Answer 1

The correct option is B presence of a lone pair on carbon atom in CO molecule

A lone pair of electrons are available on both carbon and oxygen atoms of a carbon monoxide ligand (:C≡O:)(:C≡O:). Due to the presence of the lone pair of electrons on carbon, it acts as a donor for metal carbonyls.

Hence, the correct answer is option $\text{B}$.