What VSEPR shape is CO_2?

1 Answer
anor277
May 12, 2016

The VESPER shape is linear.

Explanation:

We have 4+2xx6=16" valence electrons" to distribute over 3 centres. Carbon is considered to be the central atom (this is typical in VESPER; the least electronegative element is considered to be the cental atom).

Each oxygen atom must be surrounded by 6 electrons to be considered neutral, and there such a number of electrons: 2 bonding electrons, and 2 lone pairs on each centre.

For O=C=O there are thus 2 lone pairs associated with each oxygen centre. There are 4 electrons associated with the central carbon. Each element is therefore neutral. Given that there are 2 regions of electron density around C, the molecule is linear, i.e. /_O-C-O=180^@.

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