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Lewis Structures_advanced Honors Chemistry

The document outlines the rules for determining Lewis structures, including counting valence electrons, identifying the central atom, and adjusting bonds to achieve octets. It also explains the concept of formal charge and its significance in determining the stability of Lewis structures. Additionally, it provides practice exercises for drawing dot and cross diagrams for various molecules and ions.

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Morisuke Yaku
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15 views6 pages

Lewis Structures_advanced Honors Chemistry

The document outlines the rules for determining Lewis structures, including counting valence electrons, identifying the central atom, and adjusting bonds to achieve octets. It also explains the concept of formal charge and its significance in determining the stability of Lewis structures. Additionally, it provides practice exercises for drawing dot and cross diagrams for various molecules and ions.

Uploaded by

Morisuke Yaku
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as KEY, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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#15 Lewis Structures

Unit 1 - Atomic Structure


Lewis Structures

Rules for determining the structural formula


1. Count all the valence electrons Ex. Hydrogen gas, H2
2. Determine the central atom (the methane, CH4
element that wants the most bonds) oxygen, O2
3. Draw single bonds to the central atom carbon dioxide,
CO2
4. Put all remaining bonds to the central
atom nitrogen gas, N2
hydrogen cyanide,
5. Put all remaining valence electrons on
atoms as lone pairs HCN
6. Turn lone pairs into double or triple
bonds to give every atom an octet (or
duet)
Determining structures

Rules for determining the structural formula


1. Count all the valence electrons
2. Determine the central atom (the element
that wants the most bonds)
3. Draw single bonds to the central atom
4. Put all remaining bonds to the central atom
5. Put all remaining valence electrons on atoms
as lone pairs
6. Turn lone pairs into double or triple bonds to
give every atom an octet (or duet) up to
period 2.
7. Beyond period 2, calculate formal charge to
determine double, triple bonds and
expansion bonds.
Formal Charge
Compares the number of electrons around a “neutral atom” versus the
number of electrons around an atom in a molecule
The sum of the formal charges of each atom must be equal to the overall
charge of the molecule or ion.
Typically, the structure with the most formal charges of zero on atoms is
the more stable Lewis structure. In cases where there MUST be positive or
negative formal charges on various atoms, the most stable structures
generally have negative formal charges on the more electronegative
atoms and positive formal charges on the less electronegative atoms.
The formal charge of each atom in a molecule can be calculated using the
following equation:
Formal charge = (# of val. e- in free atom) – (# of val. e- allocated)

So what does allocated mean - # of lone pairs + ½ of the shared


Soooo, let’s try one….

Sulfate ion – SO4-2


Practice
Draw dot and cross diagrams for the following:
1. PCl4+1
2. ​BF3
3. ​H2F+1
4. PF5
5. H3O+1​
6. SO2​
7. SO3​

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