Question

What are the use of Methyl isocyanate molecule in healthcare, industry, or found in a natural source and discuss the importance of this molecule.

The electron configuration of an atom determines the number of electrons available to participate in bonding with another atom. One method of depicting the valence electrons that an atom has is through the Lewis structure

Identify the carbon in valence electrons and the orbitals in which they reside. Explain

• How many unpaired electrons are present?
• How many covalent bonds could this element make?
• Could this element participate in a double or triple bond? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Uses of Methyl Isocyanate(MIC) molecule-

• MIC is used for the production of carbamate pesticides and insecticides.
• It is also used in the rubber industry.
• MIC is used in the production of adhesives.

The MIC molecule, molecular formula , is highly toxic in nature and a colorless liquid. Though it is highly soluble in water, it is a tearing agent similar to that of tear gas. It is not manufactured globally now as its manufacturing plants have a long record of the explosion as its reaction with water is highly exothermic, which may cause an explosion if mishandled.

The Lewis structure of MIC is given below-

Both the resonance forms don't involve any unpaired electrons in any of the Carbon atoms. N and O involve unpaired electrons.

In structure A, there are TWO carbons as mentioned in the figure.

• One is carbon which is hybridized.
• other is the Carbon in   unit, which is sp hybridized.

Carbon can involve in FOUR covalent bonds due to its tetravalency.

Obviously Carbon participates in a double or triple bond. In the example of MIC, you can see the sp-C involved in TWO double bonds. Similarly in acetylene, the Carbon participates in a triple bond. There are many such examples.