CHM 015

WEEK 3

LEWIS STRUCTURE

PREPARED BY: RJAAGUILAR

AREAS OF CONCERN
The Ionic Bond
The Covalent Bond
Covalent Network
Electronegativity
Writing Lewis Structures
 OBJECTIVES
Distinguish between ionic and covalent
bonds.
Write Lewis structures for the formation
of ionic and molecular compounds
following the Octet rule.
Compare relative strength and properties
of covalent and ionic compounds
Determine polarity of molecules in terms
of electronegativity.
A general comparison of metals and
nonmetals.
 Stable Electron Configurations
• Sodium can lose a valence electron. In doing
so, its core electrons are like the noble gas,
neon.
 Stable Electron Configurations
• Chlorine can gain an electron. In doing so, its
electron structure becomes like argon.
Sodium Reacts with Chlorine (Theory)
Sodium Reacts with Chlorine (Theory)

• Na+ ions and Cl- have opposite charges

and attract each other.

• The resulting attraction is an ionic bond.

• Ionic compounds are held together by

ionic bonds and exist in a crystal.
Sodium Reacts with Chlorine (Theory)
Types of Chemical Bonding
1. Metal with nonmetal:
electron transfer and ionic bonding
2. Nonmetal with nonmetal:
electron sharing and covalent bonding
3. Metal with metal:
electron pooling and metallic bonding
The three models of chemical bonding.
 Stable Electron Configurations
Fact: Noble gases, such as helium, neon, and
argon are inert; they undergo few, if any,
chemical reactions.
Theory: The inertness of noble gases results
from their electron structures; each (except
helium) has an octet of electrons in its
outermost shell.
Deduction: Other elements that can alter
their electron structures to become like those
of noble gases would become less reactive by
doing so.
Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract
toward itself the electrons in a chemical bond.

Electron Affinity - measurable, Cl is highest

X (g) + e- X-(g)
Electronegativity - relative, F is highest

13
The Electronegativities of Common
Elements

14
Valence electrons are the outer shell electrons of an
atom. The valence electrons are the electrons that
participate in chemical bonding.

Group e- configuration # of valence e-

1A ns1 1
2A ns2 2
3A ns2np1 3
4A ns2np2 4
5A ns2np3 5
6A ns2np4 6
7A ns2np5 7
ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

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ELECTRON CONFIGURATION

17
ELECTRON CONFIGURATION
19
20
 Lewis (Electron Dot) Symbols
• G. N. Lewis developed a method of visually
representing the valence electrons as dots around
the symbol of an atom.
Lewis Electron-Dot Symbols
For main group elements -
The A group number gives the number of valence electrons.

Place one dot per valence electron on each of the four

sides of the element symbol.
Pair the dots (electrons) until all of the valence electrons
are used.
Nitrogen, N, is in Group 5A and therefore has 5
valence electrons.
. . .
:

:N . . N. . N: . N.
. . .
:
Lewis Dot Symbols for the
Representative Elements &
Noble Gases

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 Writing Lewis Structures
1. Draw skeletal structure of compound showing
what atoms are bonded to each other. Put least
electronegative element in the center.
2. Count total number of valence e-. Add 1 for
each negative charge. Subtract 1 for each
positive charge.
3. Complete an octet for all atoms except
hydrogen
4. If structure contains too many electrons, form
double and triple bonds on central atom as
needed.
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Write the Lewis structure of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
Step 1 – N is less electronegative than F, put N in center
Step 2 – Count valence electrons N - 5 (2s 22p3) and F - 7 (2s22p5)
5 + (3 x 7) = 26 valence electrons
Step 3 – Draw single bonds between N and F atoms and complete
octets on N and F atoms.
Step 4 - Check, are # of e- in structure equal to number of valence e- ?
3 single bonds (3x2) + 10 lone pairs (10x2) = 26 valence electrons

F N F

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Write the Lewis structure of the carbonate ion (CO32-).
Step 1 – C is less electronegative than O, put C in center
Step 2 – Count valence electrons C - 4 (2s 22p2) and O - 6 (2s22p4)
-2 charge – 2e-
4 + (3 x 6) + 2 = 24 valence electrons
Step 3 – Draw single bonds between C and O atoms and complete
octet on C and O atoms.
Step 4 - Check, are # of e- in structure equal to number of valence e- ?
3 single bonds (3x2) + 10 lone pairs (10x2) = 26 valence electrons
Step 5 - Too many electrons, form double bond and re-check # of e-

2 single bonds (2x2) =

O C O 4 1 double bond =
8 lone
4 pairs (8x2) = 16
O Total = 24
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Example 9.4. Lewis Structures for
Covalent Compounds 2. Write the
Lewis structure for nitric acid
(HNO3) in which the three O atoms
are bonded to the central N atom
and the ionizable H atom is bonded
to one of the O atoms.
Example 9.5. Lewis
Structures for a
Polyatomic Ion. Write
the Lewis structure for
the carbonate ion
(CO3 )
2-
 The Ionic Bond
Ionic bond: the electrostatic force that holds ions together in
an ionic compound.
Li + F Li+ F -
1s22s11s22s22p5 [He]
1s
1s2[Ne]
2
2s22p6
LiF
Li -
Li + e
+

-
e +
F F -
Li+ + F - Li+ F -
 Three ways to represent the formation of Li+
and F- through electron transfer.
Electron configurations
Li + F 1s22s22p5 Li+ + F-
1s22s1 1s22s22p6
1s2
Orbital diagrams
Li+
Li
1s 2s 2p 1s 2s 2p

+ F + F-
1s 2s 2p 1s 2s 2p

Lewis electron-dot
symbols .

: :
Li . + : F : Li+ + : F: -
:
Example 9.1. Lewis Dot
Symbols for Ionic Compounds.
Use Lewis dot symbols to show
the formation of aluminum
oxide (Al2O3).
 Using the periodic table, give Lewis symbols for:
1. magnesium
2. oxygen
3. phosphorus

Solution
Magnesium is in group 2A, oxygen is in group 6A, and
phosphorus is in group 5A. The Lewis symbols therefore have
two, six, and five dots, respectively. They are
Use Lewis symbols to show the transfer of electrons from
sodium atoms to bromine atoms to form ions with noble gas
configurations.
Solution
Sodium has one valence electron, and bromine has seven. Transfer of the
single electron from sodium to bromine leaves each with a noble gas
configuration.

Exercise 5.2A
Use Lewis symbols to show the transfer of electrons from lithium atoms to
fluorine atoms to form ions with noble gas configurations.

Exercise 5.2B
Use Lewis symbols to show the transfer of electrons from rubidium atoms to
iodine atoms to form ions with noble gas configurations.
 Electron Transfer to Form Ions
EXAMPLE 5.3
Use Lewis symbols to show the transfer of electrons from magnesium atoms
to nitrogen atoms to form ions with noble gas configurations.

Solution Mg2+
 Mg +
2+

Mg2+

Each of three magnesium atoms gives up two electrons (a total

of six), and each of the two nitrogen atoms acquires three (a
total of six). Notice that the total positive and negative charges
on the products are equal (6+ and 6–). Magnesium reacts with
nitrogen to yield magnesium nitride (Mg3N2).

Exercise 5.3
Use Lewis symbols to show the transfer of electrons from
aluminum atoms to oxygen atoms to form ions with noble gas
configurations.
 Determining Formulas by Electron Transfer

What is the formula of the compound formed by the reaction of sodium and sulfur?

Solution
Sodium is in group 1A; the sodium atom has one valence electron. Sulfur is in group 6A; the sulfur atom
has six valence electrons.
Na S
Sulfur needs two electrons to gain an argon configuration, but sodium has only one to give. The sulfur atom
therefore must react with two sodium atoms.

Na Na+
+ S  + S 2–

Na Na+

The formula of the compound, called sodium sulfide, is Na2S.

Exercise 5.4A
What are the formulas of the compounds formed by the reaction of (a) calcium with fluorine, and (b) lithium
with oxygen?

Exercise 5.4B
Use data in Figure 5.4 to predict the formulas of the two compounds that can be formed from iron (Fe) and
chlorine.
EXAMPLE 5.5 Determining Formulas from Ionic Charges

Give the formulas for (a) calcium chloride and (b) aluminum oxide.

Solution
a. First, write the symbols for the ions. (We write the charge on chloride ion explicitly as “1–” to
illustrate the crossover method. You may omit the “1” when you are comfortable with the process.)

Ca2+ Cl1–

Then cross over the numbers as subscripts.

Then rewrite the formula, dropping the charges. The formula for calcium chloride is

Ca1Cl2 or (dropping the “1”) simply CaCl2

b. Write the symbols for the ions.

Al3+ O2–
EXAMPLE 5.5 Determining Formulas from Ionic Charges continued

Cross over the numbers as subscripts.

Then rewrite the formula, dropping the charges. The formula for aluminum oxide is

Al2O3

Exercise 5.5
Give the formulas for (a) potassium oxide, (b) calcium nitride, and (c) calcium sulfide.
EXAMPLE 5.6 Naming Ionic Compounds

What are the names of (a) MgS and (b) FeCl3?

Solution
a. From Table 5.2 we can determine that MgS is made up of Mg2+ (magnesium ion) and S2–
(sulfide ion). The name is simply magnesium sulfide.
b. From Table 5.2 we can determine that the ions in FeCl3 are

Fe3+ Cl–

How do we know the iron ion in FeCl3 is Fe3+ and not Fe2+? Because there are three Cl– ions, each 1–,
the one Fe ion must be 3+ because the compound FeCl 3 is neutral. The names of these ions are
iron(III) ion (or ferric ion) and chloride ion. Therefore, the compound is iron(III) chloride (or, by the
older system, ferric chloride).

Exercise 5.6
What are the names of (a) CaF2 and (b) CuBr2?
EXAMPLE 5.7 Naming Covalent Compounds

What are the names of (a) SCl2 and (b) SF6?

Solution
a. With one sulfur atom and two clorine atoms, SCl2 is sulfur dichloride.
b. With one sulfur atom and six fluorine atoms, SF6 is sulfur hexafluoride.

Exercise 5.7A
What are the names of (a) BrF3 and (b) BrF5?

Exercise 5.7B
What are the names of (a) N2O and (b) N2O5?
EXAMPLE 5.8 Formulas of Covalent Compounds

Give the formula for tetraphosphorus hexoxide.

Solution
The tetra- indicates four phosphorus atoms, and the hex- specifies six oxygen atoms. The formula is P4O6.

Exercise 5.8A
Give the formulas for (a) phosphorus trichloride and (b) dichlorine heptoxide.

Exercise 5.8B
Give the formulas for (a) nitrogen triiodide and (b) disulfur dichloride.
EXAMPLE 5.9 Covalent Bonds from Lewis Structures
Use Lewis structures to show the formation of a covalent bond (a) between two fluorine atoms and (b)
between a fluorine atom and a hydrogen atom.
Solution

a. F + F F F bonding pair

b. H + F H F bonding pair

Exercise 5.9
Use Lewis structures to show the formation of a covalent bond between (a) two bromine atoms, (b) between a
hydrogen atom and a bromine atom, and (c) between an iodine atom and a chlorine atom.
EXAMPLE 5.10 Covalent Bonds from Lewis Structures

Use data from Figure 5.5 to classify bonds between each of the following pairs of atoms as nonpolar covalent,
polar covalent, or ionic:
a. H, H b. O, H c. C, H

Solution
a. Two H atoms have exactly the same electronegativity; the electronegativity difference is 0; the bond
is nonpolar covalent.
b. The electronegativity difference is 3.5 – 2.1 = 1.4; the bond is polar covalent.
c. The electronegativity difference is 2.5 – 2.1 = 0.4; the bond is nonpolar covalent.

Exercise 5.10A
Use data from Figure 5.5 to classify bonds between each of the following pairs of atoms as nonpolar covalent,
polar covalent, or ionic:
a. H, Br b. Na, O c. C, C

Exercise 5.10B
Use a periodic table to classify the following bonds as nonpolar covalent or polar covalent:
a. C—N b. C—O c. C——C
EXAMPLE 5.11 Formulas Using Polyatomic Ions

What is the formula for ammonium sulfide?

Solution
Ammonium ion is found in Table 5.4; sulfide ion is a sulfur atom (group 6A) with two additional electrons.
The ions are

NH4+ S2–

Crossing over,

we get

(NH4+)2S12–

The parentheses with a subscript 2 indicate that the entire ammonium unit is taken twice; there are two
nitrogen atoms and eight (4 x 2 = 8) hydrogen atoms.
EXAMPLE 5.11 Formulas Using Polyatomic Ions
continued

Exercise 5.11A
What are the formulas for (a) calcium acetate, (b)
ammonium nitrate, and (c) potassium
permanganate?
Exercise 5.11B
How many (a) nitrogen atoms are in the formula for
ammonium nitrate; and (b) carbon atoms are in the
formula for calcium acetate?
EXAMPLE 5.12
Naming Compounds with Polyatomic
Ions
What is the name of the compound NaCN?
Solution
The ions are Na+, sodium ion, and CN–, cyanide ion
(found in Table 5.4). The compound is sodium
cyanide.
Exercise 5.12A
What are the names of (a) CaCO3 and
(b) Mg3(PO4)2?
Exercise 5.12B
What are the names of (a) K2CrO4 and (b) (NH4)2Cr2O7?
EXAMPLE 5.13 Lewis Formulas

Give Lewis formulas for (a) methanol, CH3OH, (b) the BF4– ion, and (c) carbon dioxide, CO2.

Solution
a. We start by following the preceding rules:
1. The total number of valence electrons is 4 + (4 x 1) + 6 = 14.
2. The skeletal structure must have all the H atoms on the outside. That means the C and H atoms
must be bonded to each other. A reasonable skeletal structure is
H

H C O H

H
3. Now, we count five bonds with two electrons each, making a total of ten electron. Thus four of
the 14 valence electrons are left to be assigned. They are placed (as two lone pairs) on the
oxygen atom.
H

H C O H

(The remaining steps are not necessary; both carbon and oxygen have octets of electrons.)
EXAMPLE 5.13 Lewis Formulas continued
b. Again, we start by applying the preceding rules:
1. There are 3 + (4 x 7) + 1 = 32 electrons.
2. The skeletal structure is
F

F B F

F
3. Place three lone pairs on each fluorine atom.
–
F

F B F

4. We have assigned 32 electrons. None remain to be assigned. A negative sign is added to show
that this is the structure for an anion, not a molecule.
EXAMPLE 5.13 Lewis Formulas continued
c. Again, we start by applying the rules:
1. There are 4 + (2 x 6) = 16 valence electrons.
2. The skeletal structure is O—C—O.
3. Place three lone pairs on each oxygen atom.

O—C—O

4. We have assigned 16 electrons. None remain to be placed.

5. The central carbon atom has only four electrons. It needs to form two double bonds in order to
have an octet. Move a lone pair from each oxygen atom to the space between the atoms to form a
double bond on each side of the carbon atom.

O C O

Exercise 5.13A
Give Lewis formulas for (a) oxygen difluoride, OF2, and (b) methyl chloride, CH3Cl.

Exercise 5.13B
Give Lewis formulas for (a) azide ion, N3–, and (b) nitryl fluoride, NO2F (O—N—O—F skeleton).
EXAMPLE 5.14 Shapes of Molecules

What are the shapes of (a) the H2CO molecule and (b) SCl2 molecule?

Solution
a. We follow the preceding rules, starting with the Lewis structure.

1. The Lewis structure is

H

C O

H
2. There are three sets to consider: two C—H single bonds and one C O double bond.
3. The three sets get as far apart as possible, giving a triangular arrangement of the sets.

H 120°
C O
H
4. All the sets are bonding pairs; the molecular shape is triangular, the same as the arrangement of the

electrons.