Draw the Lewis structure of CO molecule

Explanation

Step 1 : Total number of valence electrons in `CO = 4 + 6 = 10.`
Step 2 : Skeletal structure is `C-O`
Step 3 : Putting a single bond between C and O, i.e., one shared pair of electrons between C and O, and the remaining 8 electrons as 3 lone pairs on O to complete its octet and 1 lone pair on C, we have
`:C: underset(* *)overset(* *)O: or :C-underset(* *)overset(* *)O:`
Step: 4 As in this structure, octet of C is not complete, multiple bonding is required between C and O. To complete the octet of C, triple bond is required between C and O. We should, therefore, shift two lone pairs on O as shared pairs between C and O so that octet of both C and O remains complete. Thus, the structure should be
`:C:::O: or :C-=O:`