Homework Problem 3.65

[tmehrazar]

i understand the problem, but how are we supposed to know the oxygens get double bonded in the lewis structures?

[jessicasam]

As a general statement, oxygen is most stable when it has 2 bonded pairs and 2 lone pairs. For these structures, they break the octet rule because Xe can have more than 8 valence electrons. Giving oxygen a double bond in order to use all the electrons is the most stable way to draw these structures.

[Yadira Flores 1G]

I would try and remember that Oxygen usually tends to make two bonds in order to acquire the formal charge of zero

[Maria Roman 1A]

the double bonds in oxygen would give a more stable lewis structure