Question

How do the atoms combine in Carbon-dioxide or $C{O}_2$.

• A. Forming Ionic bond
• B. Forming covalent bond
• C. Forming metallic bond
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is B Forming covalent bond

Carbon-dioxide is a covalent molecule. There are four covalent bonds betweenc one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
Carbon has $6$ electrons which can be written as $2,4$. So there are $4$ valence electrons in carbon. Carbon needs four electrons more to complete its octet.
Oxygen has $8$ electrons which can be written as $2,6$. So there are $6$ valence electrons in oxygen. Each Oxygen atom needs two more electrons to complete its octet.
In $C{O}_2$ molecule there are two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom.
So, two oxygen atoms will need four more electrons to complete their octet.
Thus we see that carbon as well as two oxygen atoms all need four electrons each to complete their octet. Hence carbon and oxygen mutually share their four pair of valence electrons between them to complete their octet. And four covalent bonds are formed between the three atoms.
Hence carbon dioxide is a covalent compound.
An image has been attached to make things clear.