Valence Electrons and Lewis Structures

Front

What are valence electrons?

Back

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in forming bonds with other atoms.

Front

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

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 a Lewis structure?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of lone pairs in Lewis structures?

Back

Lone pairs are pairs of valence electrons that are not involved in bonding. They can affect the shape and polarity of the molecule.

Front

What is the octet rule?

Back

The octet rule states that atoms tend to form bonds until they are surrounded by eight valence electrons, achieving a stable electron configuration.

Front

What is the molecular geometry of a molecule?

Back

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule, which is determined by the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons.

Front

What is the difference between polar and nonpolar molecules?

Back

Polar molecules have a net dipole moment due to the presence of polar bonds and an asymmetrical shape, while nonpolar molecules have no net dipole moment.

Front

What type of intermolecular forces are present in polar molecules?

Back

Polar molecules exhibit dipole-dipole interactions as their primary intermolecular force.

Front

What is the geometry of a molecule with four bonding pairs and no lone pairs?

Back

The geometry of a molecule with four bonding pairs and no lone pairs is tetrahedral.

Front

What is the geometry of a molecule with two bonding pairs and two lone pairs?

Back

The geometry of a molecule with two bonding pairs and two lone pairs is bent.