Final answer:
The cyanide ion (CN-) has 10 valence electrons resulting in a triple bond, indicated by a predicted bond order of 3. Its toxicity makes it a significant compound of concern in industrial processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cyanide ion (CN-) is a chemical species that consists of one carbon atom and one nitrogen atom connected together, with a total negative charge of 1 (1-) due to an additional electron. Valence electrons are critical in understanding such ions, and for the cyanide ion, a total of 10 valence electrons is present: 4 from the carbon atom, 5 from the nitrogen atom, and 1 from the negative charge.
To understand the bonding in the cyanide ion, we can refer to an energy-level diagram that helps place these electrons in the lowest-energy orbitals. The diagram suggests that there is a triple bond in the CN ion similar to that found in nitrogen gas (N2), hence the predicted bond order is (8 - 2) ÷ 2 = 3. Bond order is important as it provides information about the strength and length of a bond within a molecular structure.
Being a highly toxic material, cyanide ions can have severe neurological effects and are harmful to sensitive tissues, such as the thyroid gland. They are often formed through industrial processes and require careful handling and remediation.