Question

Without drawing a Lewis structure, do you think that CO contains a single, double, or triple bond?

Answer 1

I'd guess 3

Explanation:

Oxygen is cool with 2 bonds and 2 lone pairs, but carbon is rarely ok with 2 bonds and 2 lone pairs. Carbon loves its 4 bonds, and if you can get it up to 3 bonds and a lone pair, then that's a bit better. On the flip side, Oxygen never really likes 3 bonds, so you've got a compromise on both sides....oxygen with too many, carbon with not enough.

The limitation of not writing a lewis structure, though, is bit strange - lewis structure would help answer this - otherwise it seems guess work.