Question

How do you draw the Lewis structures of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide?

Answer 1

`O=C=O`, and `""^+O-=C^-`

Explanation:

For carbon dioxide there are `6+6+4=16" valence electrons"`, i.e. 8 electron pairs. There are 2 lone pairs around each oxygen atom, and with the 8 electrons involved in the double bonds, this accounts for the 16 electrons.

For carbon monoxide, there are `6+4=10" valence electrons"`. A representation of `""^+:O-=C:^-` is typical. This involves formal charge separation, but inorganic chemists tend to like this representation in that carbon monoxide typically coordinates thru the carbon.