Answer:
24
Step-by-step explanation:
Let's make a table of valence electrons and add them up.
Atom Electrons
1 C 1 × 4 = 4
3 O 3 × 6 = 18
+2e⁻ 2 = 2
TOTAL = 24
The Lewis structure below shows that there are eight electrons in covalent bonds and 16 electrons in lone pairs.
