Use the electronegativity and valence electron information to answer the question.
• H electronegativity: 2.2
• H valence electrons: 1
• C electronegativity: 2.55
• C valence electrons: 4
• O electronegativity: 3.44
• O valence electrons: 6
Chemical weathering over hundreds of thousands of years formed modern caves. One form of chemical weathering occurs when carbon dioxide reacts with water to produce carbonic acid, H2CO3. How many bonds formed in H2CO3?
1. five
2. six
3. eight
4. three
In H2CO3, we have 2 hydrogen atoms (H) bonded to the carbon atom (C) and also a double bond between the carbon atom (C) and one of the oxygen atoms (O), and another single bond between the carbon atom (C) and the other oxygen atom (O).
Therefore, the total number of bonds formed in H2CO3 is 2 + 1 + 1 = 4.
Therefore, the correct answer is "4" bonds formed in H2CO3.