GENERAL CHEMISTRY

Lewis Structure

Dr. Thomas Wong

• Lewis symbol –
• represents the element with its valence electrons.
• valence electrons are represented by dots.
• the number of dots equals the number of valence
electrons
– valence electrons are located in the outermost shell of
the atom
– the outermost shell is the last energy level
• only valence electrons are involve in bonding

3
 Lewis Symbols for Representative Elements

Notice that the group number of the A elements give the number of valence electrons in each column.
For example,
1A = 1 valence electron
2A = 2 valence electrons
Etc… 4
Writing Lewis Symbols
• The four sides around the atomic symbol can each
have two dots for a maximum of eight (octet of
electrons).
• How to Write Lewis symbols
– Place one dot on each side until there are four dots around
the symbol
– Then add a second dot to each side to form a pair
– The number of valence electrons limits the number of dots
placed
– Each unpaired dot (unpaired valence electron) is available
to form a chemical bond

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Covalent Bonding in Hydrogen

H   H  H : H
Each hydrogen atom The shared
now has two electrons electron
around it and attained a pair is called a
He configuration Covalent Bond

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Features of Covalent Bonds
• Covalent bonds form between atoms with similar chemical
properties can gain or lose electrons
• Compounds formed from covalent bonds are called
covalent compounds or molecules
• The diatomic elements have complete covalent bonds
(totally equal sharing of electrons)
– H2, N2, O2, F2, Cl2, Br2, I2

.. .. .. .. The overlap is the covalent bond aka the bonding pairs.

The rest are lone pairs. The lone pairs are not shared in a bond.

: F F :  : F : F : Hence, there are 6 lone pairs and on bonding pairs in this molecule.
Total number is 7 electron pairs.

.. .. .. ..
Each fluorine is surrounded by 8
electrons – Ne configuration 15
Covalent Bonding in Molecules
.. .. Two bonding pairs or two covalent bonds.
2H  O H : O : H Two lone pairs.
.. .. Total number is 4 electron pairs.

2e– from 2H 2e– for H

6e– from O 8e– for O

H Four bonding pairs or four covalent bonds.

. .. No lone pairs.
4H   C H : C : H Total number is 4 electron pairs.
 
H

4e– from 4H 2e– for H

4e– from C 8e– for C
16
Polar Covalent Bonding

• The Covalent Bond- two types

• Polar covalent bonding –
– bonds made up of unequally shared electron pairs
• Nonpolar covalent bonding –
– bonds made up of equally shared electron pairs

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Polar Covalent Bond
somewhat positively charged somewhat negatively charged

.. ..
H  F :  H : F :
 

These two
electrons are
not shared equally

• The electrons spend more time with fluorine

• This sets up a polar covalent bond
• A true covalent bond can only occur when both atoms are
identical
18
Drawing Lewis Structures of Molecules and Polyatomic Ions

Lewis Structure Guidelines

1. Use chemical symbols to write the skeletal structure of the

compound

• The central atom(s) are the least electronegative atom and placed
in the center (or middle).
• Hydrogen always occupies terminal positions (the ends).
• Halogens occupy terminal positions, except when more
electronegative elements are present.
• Carbon will forms chains of carbon-carbon covalent bonds.

56
2. Determine the number of valence electrons associated with each atom
in the compound
• Add the valence electrons to determine the total number of valence
electrons in the compound
• The total number of valence electrons can be divided by two to give electron pairs.
• Electron pairs can be classed as bonding pairs or lone pairs.
• Bonding pairs (two bonding electrons) are found in the covalent bond between two atoms.
• Lone pairs (two nonbonding electrons) are not involved in bonding.

• For Polyatomic cations, subtract one electron for every positive charge
• For Polyatomic anions, add one electron for every negative charge

3. Connect the central atom to each of the surrounding atom with single
bonds

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4. Next, complete octets of all the atoms bonded to the central atom
• Hydrogen needs only two electrons
• Electrons not involved in bonding are represented as lone pairs
• After the terminal atoms have an octet, provide the central atom with an
octet if valence electrons are still available

5. If there are not enough valence electrons to give the central atom an
octet, move lone pair electrons from terminal atoms to form a new
bond with the central atom.
• Continue to shift the electrons until all atoms have an octet.
• Double bonds and triple bond might be required.

6. Recheck that all atoms have the octet rule satisfied and that the total
number of valance electrons are used

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Lewis Structures of Covalent Compounds

Draw the Lewis structure of carbon dioxide, CO2

1. Draw a skeletal structure of the molecule

Arrange the atoms in their most probable order

C-O-O and/or O-C-O

Find the electronegativity of O=3.5 & C=2.5

Place the least electronegative atom as the central atom, here
carbon is the central atom
Result is the O-C-O structure from above
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Draw the Lewis structure of carbon dioxide, CO2

2. Find the number of valence electrons for each atom and the total
for the compound
1 C atom  4 valence electrons = 4 e-
2 O atoms  6 valence electrons = 12 e-
16 e- total or 8 electron pairs
3. Use electron pairs to connect the C to each O with a single bond
O―C―O
4. Place electron pairs around the atoms
:O―C―O:
: :

: :

This satisfies the rule for the O atoms, but not for C

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Draw the Lewis structure of carbon dioxide, CO2
5. Redistribute the electrons moving 2 e- from each O, placing
them between C―O

O=C=O
: :

: :
In this structure, the octet rule is satisfied
• This is the most probable structure
• Four electrons are between C and O
• These electrons are share in covalent bonds
• Four electrons in this arrangement signify a double bond

6. Recheck the electron distribution

• 8 electron pairs = 16 valence electrons, number counted at start
• 8 electrons around each atom, octet rule satisfied

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Lewis Structure of Polyatomic Anions
Draw the Lewis structure of carbonate ion, CO32-
1. Draw a skeletal structure of the molecule
Carbon is less electronegative than oxygen
• This makes carbon the central atom
• Skeletal structure and charge:
2. The total number of valence electrons is determined by adding
one electron for each unit of negative charge
1 C atom x 4 valence electrons = 4 e-
3 O atoms x 6 valence electron = 18 e-
+ 2 negative charges = 2 e-
24 e- total or 12 ep
3. Distribute these e- around the skeletal structure

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Draw the Lewis structure of carbonate ion, CO32-
4. Distributing the electrons around the central carbon
atom (4 bonds) and around the surrounding O atoms
attempting to satisfy the octet rule results in:

5. This satisfies the octet rule for the 3 oxygen, but not
for the carbon
6. Move a lone pair from one of the O atoms to form
another bond with C

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Lewis Structures Practice
Using the guidelines presented, draw Lewis structures
for the following:

1. H2O

2. NH3

3. CO2

4. NH4+

5. N2

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Lewis Structure, Stability, Multiple Bonds, and Bond Energies
• Single bond –
– one pair of bonding electrons are shared between two atoms.
– two bonding electrons are shared between two atoms.
• H2

• Double bond –
– two pairs of bonding electrons are shared between two atoms
– four bonding electrons are shared between two atoms.
• O2

• Triple bond –
– three pairs of bonding electrons are shared between two atoms.
– six bonding electrons are shared between two atoms.
• N2

– very stable. Takes more energy to break a triple bond.

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Bond Energy and Bond Length

Bond energy –
the amount of energy required to break a bond holding two atoms together
triple bond > double bond > single bond
(Greatest) Bond length decrease in this order (Least)

Bond length –
the distance separating the nuclei of two adjacent atoms
single bond > double bond > triple bond
(Greatest) Bond length decrease in this order (Least)

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Isomers
Lewis structure represents the connection and order of how each
atom of each element is arranged in a molecule by use of lines and
dots.

Molecular formula give the number of atoms of each element in a

molecule.

The difference between a Lewis structure and a Molecular formula

is that the Lewis structure show the arrangement of each atoms in a
molecule whereas the molecular formula indicate the number of
atoms of each element in a molecule.

H H

Lewis structure H C C O H

H H

Molecular formula C2H6O 67

Isomers
Isomers are compound with the same molecular formula but have
different Lewis structures.

H H H H

Lewis structure H C C O H H C O C H

H H H H

Molecular formula C2H6O C2H6O

Ethanol Diethyl ether

H C H
H H H H H H

Lewis structure H C C C C H H C C C H

H H H H H H H

Molecular formula C4H10 C4H10

Butane Isobutane

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Lewis Structures and Resonance

• Write the Lewis structure of CO32-

• If you look around you, you will probably see the double bond
put in different places

• In some cases it is possible to write more than one Lewis

structure that satisfies the octet rule for a particular compound

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CO3 Resonance

:
:O :

:
:O : :O :

: :

: :
: :

:
:

: :
:O C O: :O C O: :O C O:

• Experimental evidence shows all bonds are the same length,

meaning there is not really any double bond in this ion

• None of theses three Lewis structures exist, but the actual

structure is an average or hybrid of these three Lewis structures

• Resonance - two or more Lewis structures that contribute to the

real structure

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Lewis Structures and Exceptions to the Octet Rule
1. Incomplete octet - less then eight electrons
around an atom other than H
– Let’s look at BeH2
1 Be atom  2 valence electrons = 2 e-
2 H atoms  1 valence electrons = 2 e-
total 4 e- or
2 ep

– Resulting Lewis structure:

H – Be – H

Also, BF3 has less than eight electrons. 71

2. Odd electron - if there is an odd number of valence
electrons, it is not possible to give every atom eight
electrons

• Let’s look at NO, nitric oxide

• It is impossible to pair all electrons as the compound contains
an ODD number of valence electrons

N= O

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3. Expanded octet - an element in the 3rd period or below
may have 10 and 12 electrons around it
• Expanded octet is the most common exception
• Consider the Lewis structure of PF5
• Phosphorus is a third period element F
F
1 P atom  5 valence electrons = 5 e-
F P
F
5 F atoms  7 valence electrons = 35 e- F
40 e- total or 20 ep

• Distributing the electrons results in

:
this Lewis structure :F:

: :: :
F:
:F P
: :
:F:
F:
: 73
Lewis Structures and Molecular Geometry; VSEPR Theory

• Molecular shape plays a large part in determining properties and shape

• VSEPR theory - Valance Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory

– Used to predict the shape of the molecules
– All electrons around the central atom arrange themselves so they can be as
far away from each other as possible – to minimize electronic repulsion.

• In the covalent bond, bonding electrons are localized around the

nucleus
• The covalent bond is directional, having a specific orientation in space
between the bonded atoms
• Ionic bonds have electrostatic forces which have no specific orientation
in space

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A Stable Exception to the Octet Rule
• Consider BeH2
– Only 4 electrons surround the beryllium atom
– These electrons in the bonds to the two atoms have
minimal repulsion when located on opposite sides of
the structure
– Linear structure having bond angles of 180°

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Another Stable Exception to the Octet Rule
• Consider BF3
– There are 3 bonded atoms around the central atom
– These bonded atoms have minimal repulsion when placed in
a plane, forming a triangle
• Trigonal planar structure with bond angles of 120°

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Basic Electron Pair Repulsion of a Full Octet
• Consider CH4
– There are 4 bonded atoms around the central carbon
– Minimal electron repulsion when electrons are placed at the
four corners of a tetrahedron
– Each H-C-H bond angle is 109.5°
• Tetrahedron is the primary structure of a full octet

77
Basic Electron Pair Repulsion of a Full Octet with
One Lone Pair
• Consider NH3
– There are three bonded atoms and one lone pair (four groups)
– A lone pair is more electronegative with a greater electron repulsion
– The lone pair takes one of the corners of the tetrahedron without being
visible, distorting the arrangement of electron pairs
• Ammonia has a trigonal pyramidal structure with 107°bond
angles

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Basic Electron Pair Repulsion of a Full Octet with
Two Lone Pairs
• Consider H2O
– There are two bonded atoms and two lone pair (four groups)
– All 4 electron pairs are approximately tetrahedral to each other
– The lone pairs take two of the corners of the tetrahedron without being
visible, distorting the arrangement of electron pairs
• Water has a bent or angular structure with 104.5° bond angles

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Predicting Geometric Shape Using Electron Pairs

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Basic Procedure to Determine Molecular Shape
1. Write the Lewis structure
2. Count the number of bonded atoms and lone pairs
around the central atom
3. If no lone pairs are present, geometry is:
• 2 bonded atoms - linear
• 3 bonded atoms - trigonal planar
• 4 bonded atoms - tetrahedral
4. If there are lone pairs, look at the arrangement of the
atoms and name the geometry. Names include:
• Bent
• Trigonal pyramid

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More Complex Molecules
Consider dimethyl ether
• Has 2 different central atoms:
• oxygen
• carbon
– CH3 (methyl group) has tetrahedral geometry (like methane)
– Portion of the molecule linking the two methyl groups would
bond angles similar to water (Bend)

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Practice
Determine the Molecular Geometry

• PCl3

• SO2

• PH3

• SiH4
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Lewis Structures and Polarity
• Polar molecules when placed in an electric field will
align themselves in the field
• Molecules that are polar behave as a dipole (having two
“poles” or ends)
• One end is positively charged the other is negatively charged

• Nonpolar molecules will not align themselves in an

electric field

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How to determine if a molecule is Polar.
• Write the Lewis structure
• Draw the geometry
• Use the following symbol to denote the polarity
of each bond

Positive end of the Negative end of the bond,

bond, the less more electronegative atom
electronegative atom attracts the electrons more
strongly towards it

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Guidelines for Determining Polarity

• Molecules that have no lone pair on the central atom, and all
terminal (end) atoms are the same are nonpolar
– carbon dioxide

• Molecules with one lone pair on the central atom are polar
– ammonia

• Molecules with more than one lone pair on the central atom
are usually polar
– water
• Molecules of carbon and hydrogen are nonpolar
– methane

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Practice
Determine whether the following bonds and
molecules are polar:

1. Si – Cl 1. O2
2. H–C 2. HF
3. C–C 3. CH4
4. S – Cl 4. H2O

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