Answer
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Step 1:: Understand the types of chemical bonds
Chemical bonds can be categorized into two main types: covalent and ionic. Covalent bonds involve sharing electrons between atoms, while ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, resulting in the formation of ions.
Step 2:: Analyze the composition of CO^2
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a molecule consisting of one carbon atom (C) and two oxygen atoms (O). The atomic numbers of carbon and oxygen are 6 and 8, respectively. This means that carbon has 4 fewer electrons than oxygen.
Step 3:: Examine the electron configuration of carbon and oxygen
Carbon has 4 electrons in its outermost shell, while oxygen has 6 electrons in its outermost shell. In order for both carbon and oxygen to achieve a stable electron configuration (full outermost shell), carbon needs to gain 4 more electrons, and oxygen needs to lose 2 electrons.
Step 4:: Determine the possibility of ionic bonding
Ionic bonding occurs when one atom donates electrons to another atom. However, in the case of CO^2, carbon cannot donate all 4 of its valence electrons to oxygen because the charge would be too high (carbon would have a charge of + 4, and oxygen would have a charge of - 2). Instead, carbon shares its 4 valence electrons with the 2 oxygen atoms, forming covalent bonds.
Step 5:: Conclude that CO^2 has covalent bonds
Since carbon shares its electrons with oxygen atoms, CO^2 has covalent bonds. The shared electrons form a stable electron configuration for both carbon and oxygen.
Final Answer
CO^2 has covalent bonds.
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