Lewis Structures

Front

What is a Lewis structure?

Back

A Lewis structure is a diagram that represents the bonding between atoms of a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist in the molecule.

Front

How do you determine the number of valence electrons in an atom?

Back

The number of valence electrons can be determined by looking at the group number of the element in the periodic table. For main group elements, the group number corresponds to the number of valence electrons.

Front

What is the significance of dots in a Lewis structure?

Back

Dots in a Lewis structure represent valence electrons. Each dot corresponds to one valence electron.

Front

What is the octet rule?

Back

The octet rule states that atoms tend to form bonds in such a way that they have eight electrons in their valence shell, achieving a stable electron configuration.

Front

What type of bond is formed between two nonmetals?

Back

A covalent bond is formed between two nonmetals when they share electrons.

Front

What is a polar covalent bond?

Back

A polar covalent bond is a type of covalent bond where the electrons are shared unequally between the two atoms, resulting in a molecule with a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other.

Front

What are hydrogen bonds?

Back

Hydrogen bonds are weak attractions that occur between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom (like oxygen or nitrogen) and another electronegative atom.

Front

Which molecules can exhibit hydrogen bonding?

Back

Molecules that have hydrogen atoms bonded to highly electronegative atoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, or fluorine can exhibit hydrogen bonding.

Front

What is the difference between a Lewis structure and a dot diagram?

Back

A Lewis structure shows the arrangement of atoms and bonds in a molecule, while a dot diagram focuses on the valence electrons of a single atom.

Front

How do you represent a double bond in a Lewis structure?

Back

A double bond is represented by two lines between the two atoms in a Lewis structure, indicating that two pairs of electrons are shared.