How do we write the Lewis structure of carbon monoxide?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 1, 2017

By formal charge separation..........

Explanation:

A typical Lewis structure used for the carbon monoxide molecule is #""^(-):C-=O^(+)#. Of course this is a formalism, that is it is a way to view the molecule in an abstract sense. However, such a Lewis structure does reflect the experimental fact that when carbon monoxide binds to a metal centre, it usually binds thru the carbon.

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