Draw the Lewis structure for CO32Step
1. Draw the skeletal structure
Progress
O
O C O
2. Connect atoms by a single bond
3. Add electrons to each atom to total eight electrons – notice
the there are two electrons in each bond
4. Count up the valence electrons you should have = 4 for C, 6
each for 3 O, and 2 for the negative charge which equals 24
valence electrons
5. There are 26 in the structure drawn – 2 too many. Remove a
nonbonded pair and slide a nonbonded pair from an adjacent
atom to keep the octet.
O
│
O — C— O
..
:O:
..
│
..
:O — C — O:
¨
¨
¨
..
:O:
│
..
:O ═ C — O:
¨
¨