How to Draw the Lewis Dot Structure for CO2

To draw the Lewis dot structure for CO₂ (carbon dioxide), follow these steps:

1. Determine the total number of valence electrons:
   • Carbon (C) has 4 valence electrons.
   • Each Oxygen (O) atom has 6 valence electrons.
   • Total valence electrons = 4 (from C) + 6 (from O) + 6 (from O) = 16 electrons.
2. Identify the central atom:
   • Carbon is the central atom because it is less electronegative than oxygen.
3. Draw the skeletal structure:
   • Place the carbon atom in the center and connect it to the two oxygen atoms with single bonds.
4. Distribute the remaining electrons:
   • After forming the single bonds, you have used 4 electrons (2 for each bond).
   • Remaining electrons = 16 – 4 = 12 electrons.
   • Place the remaining electrons around the oxygen atoms to complete their octets.
5. Form double bonds:
   • Each oxygen atom needs 2 more electrons to complete its octet.
   • Convert one lone pair from each oxygen atom into a double bond with the carbon atom.
6. Final structure:
   • The final Lewis structure of CO₂ has a carbon atom double-bonded to two oxygen atoms, with no lone pairs on the carbon atom and each oxygen atom having two lone pairs.

Here is the final Lewis dot structure for CO₂:

    O = C = O