Question

<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> Explain the electron dot structure of carbon dioxide which has formula $\text{C}{\text{O}}_2$?

Answer 1

<!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> <!--td {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}--> Carbon shares 4 valence electrons with both oxygen atoms forming a double bond between them. Each oxygen atom is surrounded by four dots and two lines, representing another 4 electrons in its double bond. So each O is surrounded by 8 total valence electrons, giving it an octet and making it stable.