Carbon Dioxide : Linear Molecular Geometry

In this example, CO₂, the Lewis diagram shows carbon at the center with no lone electron pairs. The carbon and and both oxygen are bonded through double bonds which counts as "two electron pairs". Hence the molecule has two electron pairs and is linear. Carbon dioxide is the major product of all combustion reactions involving carbon based materials such as natural gas, gasoline, and coal. Carbon dioxide is the end product of animal/human metabolism/respiration. It is also the gas that provides the carbonation in soda and beer. Carbon dioxide is the major gas implicated in the greenhouse effect or global warming. The gas in the atmosphere acts to trap heat that might otherwise escape from the earth to outer space.