How do we describe the hybridization in the carbon dioxide molecule?

1 Answer
anor277 · Stefan V.
Oct 3, 2015

The bonds in carbon dioxide, #CO_2#, may be considered purely covalent.

Explanation:

In terms of a valence bond description the carbon is #sp# hybridized, and the oxygen atoms are each #sp^2# hybridized. (It would be very worthwhile should you try to take the total number of valence electrons, #6 + 4 + 6#, and assign these 16 #e# to particular atoms.

![http://chemistry.tutorvista.com/inorganic-chemistry/co2http://-molecular-geometry.html](https://useruploads.socratic.org/LLpdHLgJS9SDDUTRnqit_CO2_1.jpg)

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