Carbon Monoxide

[Nikita Patra 3J]

Could someone explain why CO has a triple bond instead of a double bond?

[Bryce Barbee]

I think it is because the extra bond makes the molecule more stable.

[Baoying Li 1B]

Because the number of valence electron of C and O is 10, 5pairs. If you draw a double bond between C and O, you will need 12 electrons to finish the octet. Also, you can check the formal charge of each element. The lower the formal charge, the more stable the molecule is.

[JTijerina_4A]

Remember that for atoms before the 3d block, fulfilling the octet rule is the first priority before checking formal charge and altering for the most stable form.

[Emil Velasco 1H]

Having a triple bond in CO fulfills the octet rule for Carbon has Carbon would want to have an octet.

Satisfying the octet rule precedes Formal charges