Write the Lewis dot structure of `CO` molecule .

Explanation

Step 1. Count the total number of valence electrons of carbon and oxygen atoms. The outer (valence) shell configurations of carbon and oxygen atoms are: `2s^(2) 2p^(2)` and `2s^(2) 2p^(4)`, respectively. The valence electrons available are 4 + 6 =10.
Step 2. The skeletal structure of CO is written as: C O
Step 3. Draw a single bond (one shared electron pair) between C and O and complete the octet on O, the remaining two electrons are the lone pair on C.
`:C :underset(..)overset(..)O: " or " :C-underset(..)overset(..)O:`
This does not complete the octet on carbon and hence we have to resort to multiple bonding (in this case a triple bond) between C and O atoms. This satisfies the octet rule condition for both atoms.