6
In most of their compounds, C has four bonds and O has two, so arrange the H atoms to show this:
Carbon already has an octet, so the four remaining valence electrons form two lone pairs on O.
Step 2. Find sum of valence electrons:
Step 3. Add single bonds and subtract 2e – for each bond:
Five bonds use 10e – , so 14e – – 10e –= 4e – remain.
Step 4. Add remaining electrons in pairs:
| Previous slide | Next slide | Back to first slide | View graphic version |