Covalent Bonds Lewis Structures Guidelines & HONC Rule

Which step comes first when drawing a Lewis structure for a covalent molecule?

• Place atoms in a skeleton layout

• Choose the least electronegative center

• Count the total valence electrons

• Add lone pairs to complete octets

After adding lone pairs to satisfy octets, what should you do next?

• Recount valence electrons total

• Replace all single bonds with triples

• Move hydrogen to the center

• Remove lone pairs from halogens

Which element commonly forms only one covalent bond under the HONC rule?

• Carbon

• Nitrogen

• Oxygen

• Hydrogen

According to the HONC rule, how many bonds does oxygen typically form?

• One bond

• Two bonds

• Three bonds

• Four bonds

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-1

Which statement aligns with the HONC rule for nitrogen’s bonding pattern?

• Nitrogen forms one bond

• Nitrogen forms two bonds

• Nitrogen forms three bonds

• Nitrogen forms four bonds

Which element is most appropriate as the central atom in many covalent molecules?

• Hydrogen often serves as center

• Halogens are usual centers

• Carbon is commonly the center

• Oxygen must be the center

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-1

Which is an accepted octet rule exception shown in the guidelines?

• Carbon can have 6 electrons

• Hydrogen has 2 electrons

• Oxygen has 10 electrons

• Nitrogen has 5 electrons

In the example of C2H2, why are multiple bonds needed between carbons?

• To reduce electron pairs on hydrogen

• To match the total valence electrons

• To increase halogen electronegativity

• To avoid using lone pairs on carbon

Match each element with its typical number of covalent bonds under the HONC rule.

• 2 bonds

• H (hydrogen)

• 1 bond

• C (carbon)

• 3 bonds

• O (oxygen)

• 4 bonds

• N (nitrogen)