Question

In the following resonating structures A and B, the number of unshared electrons in valence shell present on oxygen respectively are ______.

Options

• 2, 4

• 2, 6

• 4, 6

• 6, 4

Answer 1

In the following resonating structures A and B, the number of unshared electrons in valence shell present on oxygen respectively are 4, 6.

Explanation:

In structure (A), the oxygen atom has two lone pairs of electrons, which means there are 4 unshared electrons.

In structure (B), the oxygen atom has three lone pairs of electrons, totalling 6 unshared electrons.