[orgo814]

I'm having a tough time with these kind of problems for some reason. I am supposed to determine the oxidation numbers by drawing the lewis structure for the compound V(CO)6 (-)

I drew out its lewis structure and came up with O= -2, C= -2, V + 12. Mathematically this makes sense since all it's charges add up to 0 and logically it makes sense too since the most electronegative atom oxygen draws the two electrons from the carbon leaving it +2 but then it takes 4 from the V to make it -2. However, my book has it as V= -1, C= +2, O= -2. Is there a special rule for metals? Why does the carbon not take electrons from the V? Any help would be appreciated.. very confused.

[Hunter2]

CO Carbonoxide is a neutral ligand. So C is +2 and O is -2. The molecule -1. So Vanadium has to be -1.