Skip to main content
Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding
Chapter 8, Problem 55

Predict the ordering, from shortest to longest, of the bond lengths in CO, CO2, and CO32- .

Verified Solution

Video duration:
5m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Bond Length

Bond length is the distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms. It is influenced by the type of bond (single, double, or triple) and the size of the atoms involved. Generally, shorter bonds correspond to stronger interactions between atoms, while longer bonds indicate weaker interactions.
Recommended video:
Guided course
00:36
Average Bond Order

Bond Order

Bond order refers to the number of chemical bonds between a pair of atoms. It is calculated as the difference between the number of bonding and antibonding electrons divided by two. Higher bond orders typically result in shorter bond lengths due to increased electron density between the nuclei, leading to stronger attractions.
Recommended video:
Guided course
00:36
Average Bond Order

Resonance Structures

Resonance structures are different ways of drawing the same molecule that illustrate the delocalization of electrons. In molecules like CO3^2-, resonance indicates that the actual bond lengths are an average of the different structures. This delocalization can affect bond lengths, making them longer than expected for a single bond but shorter than for a double bond.
Recommended video:
Guided course
01:42
Resonance Structures