QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
What is the total number of valence electrons in the Lewis structure of CO₂?
Draw a Lewis structure for CO₂. Do not include overall ion charges or formal charges in your drawing. If the species contains oxygen, do not draw double bonds to oxygen unless they are needed for the central atom to obey the octet rule.
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Answer
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Step 1: Identify the number of valence electrons in each atom.
For carbon (C), there are 4 valence electrons. For oxygen (O), there are 6 valence electrons.
Step 2: Determine the total number of valence electrons in the molecule.
There are two oxygen atoms in CO₂, so the total number of valence electrons is: \text{Total valence electrons} = \text{Valence electrons from C} + 2 \times \text{Valence electrons from O} = 4 + 2 \times 6 = 20 \text{ valence electrons}
Final Answer
The total number of valence electrons in the Lewis structure of CO₂ is 20. The Lewis structure is drawn as follows: \mathrm{O}=\mathrm{C}=\mathrm{O} The structure shows that carbon shares 4 electrons (2 in each double bond) and each oxygen shares 6 electrons (2 in the double bond and 4 in lone pairs).
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