CHM 121:

INTRODUCTORY CHEMISTRY II

Drawing Lewis
Structures
 Lecturers:
 Dr. Agunbiade , Dr. Oluseyi, Prof Isanbor
 Department of Chemistry, University of Lagos
Some issues about Lewis Structures to be discussed:
(1) Drawing “valid” Lewis structures which follow the “octet” rule
(holds almost without exception for first full row)
(2) Drawing structures with single, double and triple bonds
(3) Dealing with isomers (same composition, different constitution)
(4) Dealing with resonance structures (same constitution, different
bonding between atoms)
(5) Dealing with “formal” charges on atoms in Lewis structures
(6) Dealing with violations of the octet rule:
Molecules which possess an odd number of electrons
Molecules which are electron deficient
Molecules which are capable of making more than four covalent
bonds
The Lewis Model of Chemical Bonding

 In 1916 G. N. Lewis proposed that atoms

combine in order to achieve a more stable
electron configuration.

 Maximum stability results when an atom

is isoelectronic with a noble gas.

 An electron pair that is shared between

two atoms constitutes a covalent bond.
Covalent Bonding and Lewis Structures
(1) Lewis “dot” (electron) structures of valence electrons
for atoms
(2) Use of Periodic Table to determine the number of
“dots”
(3) Use of Lewis structures to describe the electronic
structures of atoms and molecules
(4) Works best for covalent bonds and for elements in the
first full row of the Periodic Table: H, He, Li, Be, B, C, N,
O, F, Ne
(5) Works with restrictions for second full row of the
Periodic Table and beyond: Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar
Valence electrons for Elements
 Represent the number of valence electrons as dots
 Valence number is the same as the Periodic Table Group
Number
 Lewis “dot-line” representations of
atoms and molecules
 Electrons of an atom are of two types: core electrons
and valence electrons
 The number of valence electrons is equal to the group
number of the element for the representative elements.
 For atoms the first four dots are displayed around the
four “sides” of the symbol for the atom.
 If there are more than four electrons, the dots are paired
with those already present until an octet is achieved.
 Ionic compounds are produced by complete transfer of
an electron from one atom to another.
 Covalent compounds are produced by sharing of one or
more pairs of electrons by two atoms.
 Covalent bonding and Lewis structures

(1) Covalent bonds are formed from sharing of electrons

by two atoms.

(2) Molecules possess only covalent bonds.

(3) The bedrock rule for writing Lewis structures for the
first full row of the periodic table is the octet rule for
C, N, O and F: C, N, O and F atoms are always
surrounded by eight valence electrons.

(4) For hydrogen atoms, the doublet rule is applied: H

atoms are surrounded by two valence electrons.
Writing Lewis structures
 The skeletal structure of a polyatomic ion / molecule
indicates the order in which the atoms are attached to one
another
 It consists of one or more central atom(s) and at least 2
terminal atoms
 A central atom is bonded to two / more atoms in the
structure
 A terminal atom is bonded to only one other atom
 In writing a skeletal structure the idea that every atom
must be connected to the rest of the structure by at least
one bond is applied.
Valence electrons and number of bonds
Number of bonds elements prefers depending on the number of valence electrons.
In general -

Fami l y  # Cov al en t Bon d s*

H alog en s
F, B r, Cl, I
X  1 bond often

C alcog en s
O, S
O  2 bond often
N itrog en
N  3 bond often
N, P

C arb on
C, Si
C  4 bond always

The above chart is a guide on the number of bonds formed by these atoms.
 Lewis Structure, Octet Rule Guidelines
When compounds are formed they tend to follow
the Octet Rule.
Octet Rule: Atoms will share electrons (e-) until it is
surrounded by eight valence electrons.
Rules of the (VSEPR) game-
i) O.R. works mostly for second period elements.
Many exceptions especially with 3rd period elements (d-orbitals)
ii) H prefers 2 e- (electron deficient)
. . ..
iii) :C: . N:
. :O:
. :F:
.
4 unpaired 3unpaired 2unpaired 1unpaired up = unpaired
e-
4 bonds 3 bonds 2 bonds 1 bond
O=C=O NN O=O F-F
iv) H & F are terminal in the structural formula (Never central)

10 Lewis Structure Tutorial 10.7.00 6:16 PM

 Atomic Connectivity
The atomic arrangement for a molecule is usually given.
CH2ClF HNO3 CH3COOH H2Se H2SO4 O3
Cl
O N O H O O
H Se H O O O
H C F
O
H C C H O S O H
H
H
H O H
O

In general when there is a single central atom in the molecule, CH2ClF, SeCl2, O3 (CO2,
NH3, PO43-), the central atom is the first atom in the chemical formula.
Except when the first atom in the chemical formula is Hydrogen (H) or fluorine (F). In
which case the central atom is the second atom in the chemical formula.

Find the central atom for the following:

1) H2O a) H b) O 2) PCl3 a) P b) Cl
3) SO3 a) S b) O 4) CO32- a) C b) O
5) BeH2 a) Be b) H 6) IO3- a) I b) O
 Note the following
 Hydrogen atoms are nearly always terminal atoms, they form
only one bond. (H has 2 electrons in valence shell)
 In polyatomic molecules and / ions, the central atom(s)
usually have the lowest electronegativity except for
hydrogen (that is always terminal even when bonded to a
more electronegative atom)
 In oxo acids, hydrogen atoms are usually bonded to oxygen
atoms.
 With the major exception of carbon compounds in which
long chains of carbon atoms are common, polyatomic
molecules and ions usually form compact structures
Steps for writing Lewis structures
1. Determine the total number of valence electrons.
 The total number of valence electrons for a molecule is the sum of
the valence electrons for each atom.
• N2O4 ----- (2 x 5) + (4 x 6) = 34 valence electrons
 For a polyatomic anion, which has one / more extra electrons, add
one electron for each unit of negative charge
• NO3- ----- 5 + (3 x 6) + 1 = 24 valence electrons
 For a polyatomic anion, which is missing one / more electrons,
subtract one electron for each unit of the positive charge
• NH4+ ----- 5 + (4 x 1) – 1 = 8 valence electrons
2. From the chemical formula, determine the
atom connectivity for the structure.
 Given a chemical formula, ABn, A is the central atom and B
flanks the A atom. i.e., NH3, NCl3, NO2. In these examples,
N is central in the structure.
 H and F are never central atoms.
3. Write the skeletal structure and connect bonded atoms with
an electron – pair bond (dash)
4. Place electron pair around terminal atoms so that each
atom (except Hydrogen) has an octet)

5. Assign any remaining electrons as lone pairs around the

central atom(s).

6. If at this point a central atom has fewer than 8 electrons, a

multiple bond(s) is likely.
Move one or more lone pairs from a terminal atom(s) to a
region between it and the central atom to form a double or
triple bond.
The steps in converting a molecular formula into a Lewis structure.

Place atom with lowest

Molecular Step 1 EN in center.
Formula

Atom Step 2 Add A-group numbers.

placement
Step 3 Draw single bonds, and subtract
Sum of 2e- for each bond.
valence e-
Step 4 Give each atom 8e-
Remaining (2e- for H).
valence e-

Lewis
structure
 Example: NF3

Molecular N has a lower EN than F, so N is placed in the center.

Formula

Atom
placement
1 x N = 1 x 5 = 5e-
Sum of
3 x F = 3 x 7 = 21 e-
valence e-
Total = 26 e-

Remaining
valence e-

Lewis
structure
 Writing Lewis Structures for Molecules with
One Central Atom
PROBLEM 1: Write a Lewis structure for CCl2F2, one of the compounds
responsible for the depletion of stratospheric ozone.

SOLUTION:
Step 1: Carbon has the lowest EN and is the central atom.
The other atoms are placed around it.

Step 2: [1 x C(4e-)] + [2 x F(7e-)] + [2 x Cl(7e-)] =

32 valence e-

Step 3-4: Add single bonds, then give each atom a

Cl
full octet.
F C F

Cl
Writing Lewis Structures for Molecules with
More than One Central Atom
PROBLEM 2: Write the Lewis structure for methanol (molecular formula
CH4O), an important industrial alcohol that is being used as a
gasoline alternative in car engines.
SOLUTIO
N:
Step 1: Place the atoms relative to each other. H can only
form one bond, so C and O must be central and
adjacent to each other.
Step 2: [1 x C(4e-)] + [1 x O(6e-)] + [4 x H(1e-)] =
14 valence e-

Step 3-4: Add single bonds, then give each atom

(other than H) a full octet.
 Multiple Bonds

If there are not enough electrons for the central atom to attain an octet, a
multiple bond is present.

Step 5: If the central atom does not have a full octet, change a lone
pair on a surrounding atom into another bonding pair to the central
atom, thus forming a multiple bond.
Writing Lewis Structures for Molecules with Multiple Bonds

PROBLEM 3: Write Lewis structures for the following:

(a) Ethylene (C2H4), the most important reactant in the
manufacture of polymers
(b) Nitrogen (N2), the most abundant atmospheric gas
PLAN: After following steps 1 to 4 we see that the central atom does not
have a full octet. We must therefore add step 5, which involves
changing a lone pair to a bonding pair.
SOLUTION:
(a) C2H4 has 2(4) + 4(1) = 12 valence e-. H can have only one bond per
atom.
(b) N2 has 2(5) = 10 valence e-.