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Simple Lewis Structures Practice

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7 views

Simple Lewis Structures Practice

Uploaded by

chitrala.ashritha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Drawing Lewis Structures

Rule #1: All matter tends toward stability. When matter is stable, it is more difficult for it to react. Most
atoms are stable when they are surrounded by eight valence electrons (the octet rule!). There are a few
exceptions: H and He are stable with only 2 electrons, and B is stable with 6.

Rule #2: Follow this basic procedure when drawing a Lewis Structure!!
1. Determine the total number of valence electrons for the molecule by finding the sum of the
valence electrons of each individual atom. Valence electrons can be determined by group/family
number. If it is an ion, adjust the number of electrons based upon the charge of the ion
(negative ions get electrons added while positive ions get electrons subtracted)
2. If there are more than two elements in the molecule, determine the central atom. The central
atom is the first element in the formula or it only occurs once in the formula but H cannot be a
central atom since it can only bond once (share 2 electrons). Also, if the first element is not H but
it has a subscript, then use the second element as your central atom.
3. Draw a “skeleton” structure by writing down the symbol of the central atom. Then, write down
the symbol of all remaining atoms using the right, left, top and bottom sides of the central
atom’s symbol. Now, connect each non-central atom to the central atom with a line. This line
represents two electrons in a covalent bond.
4. Complete the octets/duets for all outer atoms FIRST by adding 2 dots on each side of the
element that does not have a line (bond). Remember hydrogen will not get any extra dots.
5. Complete the octet for the central atom by following the following steps.
A. If you do not have any more electrons and all atoms have an octet, move to step 6.
B. If you have additional electrons available, place them on the central atom in pairs as you
did with the non-central atoms.
C. If you do not have any more electrons to place, erase one electron pair from a
non-central atom and then draw another bond between that atom and the central atom.
Continue to rearrange electrons (if necessary) to make multiple bonds so that Rule #1 is
followed for every atom in the molecule or polyatomic ion. Sometimes double and triple
bonds may be necessary to use all valence electrons.
6. If the molecule is an ion, draw brackets around it and place the charge of the ion on the top right
of the bracket. If it is not an ion, you are done!
Draw the Lewis Structure for each of the following molecules or polyatomic ions in the table below.
1. O2 2. H2S 3. HCN

4. BF3 5. (NH4)+ (subtract 1 electron) 6. HOBr

*Boron only seeks 6 valence


electrons*

7. (FCl2)+ (subtract 1 electron) 8. CH4 9. (CO3)-2 (add 2 electrons)

10. SiO2 11. (PO4)-3 (add 3 electrons) 12. CS2

13. (NO)+ (subtract 1 electron) 14. PBr3 15. NH3

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