How can I draw a Lewis dot diagram for carbon dioxide?

Question

Isaac Aronson · Accepted Answer

1.

2.

Two electrons (dots) make one bond (line).

Easton Jones · Answer

undefined To draw a Lewis dot diagram for carbon dioxide, follow these steps:

1. Write the chemical formula for carbon dioxide, which is CO2.
2. Determine the total number of valence electrons for carbon dioxide. Carbon has 4 valence electrons, and each oxygen atom has 6 valence electrons, for a total of 16 valence electrons.
3. Place the least electronegative atom (carbon) in the center and the more electronegative atoms (oxygen) around it.
4. Connect each oxygen atom to the carbon atom with a single bond (two shared electrons).
5. Distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs around each oxygen atom to satisfy the octet rule (except for the central carbon atom, which can have more than 8 electrons).
6. Check to ensure that each atom has a full outer shell (except for hydrogen, which only needs 2 electrons).

The Lewis dot diagram for carbon dioxide should show a carbon atom in the center with two oxygen atoms attached to it via single bonds, and each oxygen atom should have two lone pairs of electrons around it.