Question

What is the total number of valence electrons in CO₂?
a) 15
b) 24
c) 16
d) 8

Answer 1

To determine the total number of valence electrons in CO2 (carbon dioxide), you need to consider the valence electrons of each element in the molecule.

• Carbon (C) is in group 14 of the periodic table, so it has 4 valence electrons.

• Oxygen (O) is in group 16 of the periodic table, so it has 6 valence electrons each.

• Now, for CO2, you have one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.

Total valence electrons in CO2 = Valence electrons of C + Valence electrons of O (2 atoms) = 4 + (6 * 2) = 4 + 12 = 16

So, the total number of valence electrons in CO2 is 16.

The correct answer is:

c) 16