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the carbon atom in CO exhibits a lone pair. in what type of atomic orbital does this lone pair on C reside?

User Jjjjjjjj
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1 Answer

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Answer:

sp atomic orbital

Step-by-step explanation:

CO has a triple bond, which is composed of one sigma bond and two pi bonds. Pi bonds are formed using one p orbital from each atom, so the carbon atom must have two unhybridized p orbitals in order to form two pi bonds. The other s and p orbitals that it has are hybridized together to form two sp orbitals. One of the sp orbitals is used in the sigma bond and the other holds the lone pair.

User Jake Schmidt
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