Structure of cyanide CN (1 Viewer)

[deadbeat]

How can CN be a triple bond as represented below??

C has a valence of 4.

how can it share 3 electrons with N and then still have 2 electrons?

 

[xiao1985]

CN has an extra electron than the "normal" electron count, which is also why CN is negatively charged.

 

[WantToDoBetter]

Coordenate convalent bond? Correct me if im wrong. If the op isn't sure that it is then ill explain then... Back to King Lear .
Cheers.

 

[Undermyskin]

How would you explain it with coordinate covalent bond? I think any quirky thing is tagged CCV?

In this case anyhow the extra e in C is from the environment? Yeah, I think it's from the environment when CN comes into contact with other substances that donate e. Simply like how you have H+ and Cl-. CN- is the same. It gains e from anything like H, Na, K atoms, etc. Remember CN- doesn't exist on its own. It either covalently or ionically bonds with other 'things'. Yes, that's easy.

 

[xiao1985]

Yea, coordinate covalent bond is really a formality. Once formed, CCB is identical to a normal covalent bond.

 

[WantToDoBetter]

Yer thanks 4 that xiao, i know that the anion CN- is a ligand and it has a high tendency to coordinate covalent bond. But i was wrong to suggest that its triple covalent bond contained a coordinate covalent bond.