Question #ab80d

1 Answer
SupernovaT
Dec 16, 2017

Triple bonding in CO results from one S-orbital interaction and two P-orbital interactions. Please see my (badly drawn!) illustration below.

Explanation:

SupernovaT Illustration

I have used orbitals #P_x# and #P_z# for illustrative purposes here, but the point is that two pi bonds are being formed by the interaction of two p-orbitals from each atom. This, coupled with a sigma bond (from the s-orbital of each atom) gives rise to three bonds and thus the atoms can be described as being 'triply bonded'.

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