How to Draw the Chemical Bonding for CO

A drawing of the chemical bond of molecules shows how an atom is created.

The chemical bond between each molecule that makes up an element can be represented through a drawing. The chemical bonding between carbon and oxygen molecules creates the element carbon monoxide (CO). While most people are familiar with the letters that comprise the atom, typically only scientists use the drawings of the chemical bond. In these drawings, the letter representing each molecule is used, along with dots for the electrons and lines to represent the bonds existing between the two molecules.

Instructions

1. Write the "C" for carbon and the "O" for oxygen onto the paper, leaving some space between the two that will allow room to show the chemical bond later.

2. Place two dots on top of each other, similar to a colon, to the left of the "C." Do the same on the right side of the "O." These dots represent the electrons that are not shared between the two molecules.

3. Draw three lines parallel to each other between the "C" and the "O." These lines represent the electrons that are shared between the two molecules and are chemically bonded together. Three lines means there are six molecules shared between the molecules: two from the carbon molecule and four from the oxygen molecule.

Tips & Warnings

• Less stable atoms can be denoted by two lines connecting the two molecules. In this case, place two dots side by side on top of the "O" and two dots side by side on the bottom of the "O" in place of the two dots to the right of the "O."

• The charge of each molecule is unimportant in carbon monoxide.

References

• SparkNotes: The Covalent Bond
• Boise State University: Carbon Monoxide
• Michigan State University: Molecular Shape