What is the molecular geometry around the central carbon in CO2?

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Multiple Choice

What is the molecular geometry around the central carbon in CO2?

Explanation:
VSEPR theory tells us that the arrangement of atoms around a central atom is determined by the electron domains (bonding regions and lone pairs) around it. In CO2, the central carbon has two electron domains, one for each C=O bond, and there are no lone pairs on carbon. With just two regions of electron density, these regions repel each other as little as possible and line up in a straight 180° arrangement. That makes the molecular geometry linear. The other possibilities would require three or four electron domains (or lone pairs) around carbon, which CO2 does not have, so they don’t fit. The molecule remains linear due to the two bonding domains and absence of lone pairs on the carbon.

VSEPR theory tells us that the arrangement of atoms around a central atom is determined by the electron domains (bonding regions and lone pairs) around it. In CO2, the central carbon has two electron domains, one for each C=O bond, and there are no lone pairs on carbon. With just two regions of electron density, these regions repel each other as little as possible and line up in a straight 180° arrangement. That makes the molecular geometry linear.

The other possibilities would require three or four electron domains (or lone pairs) around carbon, which CO2 does not have, so they don’t fit. The molecule remains linear due to the two bonding domains and absence of lone pairs on the carbon.

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