The valence electron count for cyanide (CN) is often misunderstood, with some suggesting it totals 9. To clarify, the correct approach is to consider the group numbers of carbon and nitrogen, which contribute to the valence electron count. For CN, the total is derived from adding the valence electrons of both atoms. It’s important to distinguish between CN and its anion CN-, as the latter has one additional electron. Understanding the atomic structure of cyanide requires careful calculation of these valence electrons.
