Question

What is the formula for carbon suboxide?
A.CO
B.$C{O_2}$
C.${C_2}{O_4}$
D.${C_3}{O_2}$

Answer 1

Hint: Try to recall that carbon suboxide is a cumulene, because it has cumulative double bonds connecting adjacent carbon atoms. Now by using this you can easily find the correct option from the given ones.

Complete step by step solution:
It is known to you that carbon suboxide is an interesting compound with four cumulative double bonds making it a cumulene. It is often used to improve dye quality in various furs and fabrics.
It has three carbon atoms and all the three carbon atoms are sp hybridised and the two oxygen atoms are $s{p^2}$ hybridized.
The sp orbitals of carbon atoms and one of the $s{p^2}$ orbitals of each oxygen atom forms sigma bonds, i.e., there will be 4 sigma bonds.
On each carbon atom there are two p orbitals with those on the adjacent atoms resulting in 4 pi bonds. So, from above we can say that the formula of carbon suboxide is ${C_3}{O_2}$.
CO is the formula for carbon monoxide and is formed by incomplete combustion of carbon and carbon containing fuels.
$C{O_2}$ is the formula for carbon dioxide and is prepared by burning carbon, fossil fuels and other organic compounds in excess of air or oxygen.
Therefore, from above we can easily conclude that option D is the correct option to the given question.

Note: It should be remembered to you that in carbon dioxide, carbon is sp-hybridized and it forms two sigma bonds with two oxygen atoms and two pi multiple bonds.
Also, you should remember that in carbon monoxide molecules both carbon and oxygen atoms are sp-hybridized and the carbon monoxide molecule is a linear molecule.