Lewis Dot Diagrams - Atoms and Ions

Front

What is a Lewis Dot Diagram?

Back

A Lewis Dot Diagram is a representation of the valence electrons of an atom, ion, or molecule, using dots around the chemical symbol.

Front

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

Back

The number of valence electrons can be determined by the group number of the element in the periodic table. For example, elements in group 1 have 1 valence electron, while those in group 18 have 8.

Front

What is the difference between an atom and an ion?

Back

An atom is a neutral particle with an equal number of protons and electrons, while an ion is a charged particle that has either lost or gained electrons.

Front

How do you represent a negatively charged ion in a Lewis Dot Diagram?

Back

A negatively charged ion is represented by adding dots to the Lewis Dot Diagram, indicating the additional electrons gained.

Front

How do you represent a positively charged ion in a Lewis Dot Diagram?

Back

A positively charged ion is represented by removing dots from the Lewis Dot Diagram, indicating the electrons lost.

Front

What is the significance of group 18 elements in Lewis Dot Diagrams?

Back

Group 18 elements, known as noble gases, have a full valence shell (8 electrons), making them stable and typically unreactive.

Front

What does it mean for an atom to gain electrons?

Back

When an atom gains electrons, it becomes negatively charged and is referred to as an anion.

Front

What does it mean for an atom to lose electrons?

Back

When an atom loses electrons, it becomes positively charged and is referred to as a cation.

Front

How can you identify an ion from group 15 in a Lewis Dot Diagram?

Back

An ion from group 15 typically has 5 valence electrons and will gain 3 electrons to achieve a full octet, resulting in a negative charge.

Front

What is the octet rule?

Back

The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a full outer shell of 8 electrons, leading to greater stability.