Lewis Dot
Structures and
Molecular
Geometries
What will you know? What will you do?
• (3c) ·Lewis dot diagrams are used to represent valence electrons in an element.
Structural formulas show the arrangements of atoms and bonds in a molecule
and are represented by Lewis dot structures.
• Draw Lewis dot diagrams to represent valence electrons in elements and draw
Lewis dot structures to show covalent bonding.
• Use valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) model to draw and name
molecular shapes (bent, linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, and trigonal
pyramidal).
• Polar bonds form between elements with very different electronegativities. Non-
polar bonds form between elements with similar electronegativities.
• Polar molecules result when electrons are distributed unequally.
• Recognize polar molecules and non-polar molecules.
• (6a) · Draw Lewis dot structures, identify geometries, and describe polarities of
the following molecules: CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C2H2, CH3CH2OH, CH2O, C6H6, CH3COOH.
Lewis Dot Structures
• Created by Gilbert Lewis in 1916
• Shows structural formulas for compounds
• Arrangement of atoms and bonds within a compound
Structural formula for
Methane, CH4
Lewis Dot Structures
• Uses valence electrons
• One dot = one valence electron
• One dash = a covalent bond = two
electrons
Groups - Review Group 8 = 8 electrons
Group 1 = 1 electron
Except for He,
Group 2 = 2 electrons it has 2
electrons
•Each column is
called a
“group”
•Each element in a
group has the same
number of electrons
in their outer orbital,
also known as
“shells”.
•The electrons in the
outer shell are called
“valence electrons”
www.chem4kids
Lewis Structures
1) Write the element symbol.
2) Carbon is in the 4th group,
so it has 4 valence electrons.
3) Starting at the right, draw 4
electrons, or dots, counter-
clockwise around the
element symbol.
Lewis Structures
1) Check your work.
2) Using your periodic table,
check that Carbon is in the
4th group.
3) You should have 4 total
electrons, or dots, drawn in
for Carbon.
Lewis Structures
On your worksheet, try these
elements on your own:
a) H
b) P
c) Ca
d) Ar
e) Cl
f) Al
Lewis Structures
On your worksheet, try
these elements on your
own:
a) H
b) P
c) Ca
d) Ar
e) Cl
f) Al
Lewis Structures
On your worksheet, try these
elements on your own:
a) H
b) P
c) Ca
d) Ar
e) Cl
f) Al
Lewis Structures
On your worksheet, try these
elements on your own:
a) H
b) P
c) Ca
d) Ar
e) Cl
f) Al
Lewis Structures
On your worksheet, try these
elements on your own:
a) H
b) P
c) Ca
d) Ar
e) Cl
f) Al
Lewis Structures
On your worksheet, try these
elements on your own:
a) H
b) P
c) Ca
d) Ar
e) Cl
f) Al
Lewis Structures
On your worksheet, try these
elements on your own:
a) H
b) P
c) Ca
d) Ar
e) Cl
f) Al
Lewis Dot Structures
http://www.roymech.co.uk/images14/lewis_elements.gif
Lewis Structures
• Lewis structures show how valence electrons are
arranged among atoms in a molecule.
• Lewis structures reflect the idea that stability of a
compound relates to the octet rule
• Shared electrons pairs are covalent bonds and can be
represented by two dots (:) or by a single line ( - )
HONC, HONC..
• The HONC Rule
• Hydrogen (and Halogens) form one covalent bond
• Oxygen (and sulfur) form two covalent bonds
• One double bond, or two single bonds
• Nitrogen (and phosphorus) form three covalent
bonds
• One triple bond, or three single bonds, or one double bond and one single
bond
• Carbon (and silicon) form four covalent bonds.
• Two double bonds, or four single bonds, or one triple and one single, or one
double and two singles
Lewis Dot Structures - Compounds
• Make the atom wanting the most bonds the central atom (if more
than 2 total atoms)
• Draw proper number of dots (= valence electrons around each atom).
• Join atoms on the outside with the central atom using electron pairs,
obeying the HONC rule
• Make sure every atom has a full valence shell (2 e- for H, 8 for
everything else)
• Boron the only exception we’ll cover, he gets 6 valence electrons
Additional Note on Octet Rule
• Atoms in the third row and below can disobey the
octet rule at various times. We will not cover
those structures in this course. (DE anyone?)
• This is for a simplification of material with a degree of
honesty.
Examples – On Board
• H2 O
• NH3
• BH3
• CCl4
• CO2
• HCN
• Diatomics
Examples
Carbon Based Molecules
• With multiple carbon compounds, connect carbons
together
• Arrange other elements around carbon, fill octets
Carbon Based Molecules
• Practice (on board)
• C2H6
• C2H4
• C2H5OH
• Formaldehyde (CH2O)
Carbon Based Molecules
Ethyne
Ethane Ethene
Formaldehyde
Ethanol
Carbon Based Molecules
Benzene Acetic Acid
Molecular Geometry
• Based on Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion
(VSEPR) theory
• Electron pairs around a central atom arrange
themselves so they can be as far apart as possible
from each other.
Molecular Geometry
• You will be responsible for five molecular
shapes
• Compounds take a three-dimensional shape
based on:
• Number of atoms attached
• Number of unbonded electrons present
• These are general rules for binary compounds
• There are always exceptions!!! (including organics)
Linear
• Carbon is central atom
• Surrounded by two oxygen atoms
• No unbonded electrons on carbon
• Look for AX2 geometry
• Central atom is group 14
Bent
• Oxygen is central atom
• Central atom is typically group 16.
• Surrounded by two atoms (H or halogen)
• Two unbonded electron pairs on oxygen, push hydrogens
out of the plane
Bent vs. Linear
What’s The Difference?
• Both have a similar
formula (AX2)
Unbonded electrons
on oxygen • Look at the central atom No unbonded electrons
• If the element is group 14, on carbon
it is linear
• If the element is group 16,
it is bent Linear
Bent
• Look for presence or
absence of unbonded
electrons
Write all
Trigonal Pyramidal
• Nitrogen surrounded by three hydrogen atoms (or
halogens)
• One pair of unbonded electrons, push hydrogens out
of plane
http://dl.clackamas.edu/ch104/lesson9images/molecshapes4.jpg
http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/melissagetz/images/trig_pyr_top.jpg
Trigonal Planar
• Boron is central atom surrounded by three
fluorine atoms (or H or other halogen)
• Boron can defy octet rule, happy with six
electrons
• No unbonded electrons on boron, fluorine atoms
stay within a single plane
Planar vs. Pyramidal
• Both have similar formula (AX3)
• Look at the central atom
• If it has unbonded electrons, it
will be trigonal pyramidal
No unbonded
• If it doesn’t have unbonded Electrons on boron
electrons (only boron!), it will
be trigonal planar
Tetrahedral
• AX4 formula
• Carbon (or silicon) surrounded by four hydrogens (or
halogens)
• Only shape we’re concerned with four surrounding atoms
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/204tetrahedral.html
Molecular Geometry Diagram Description Example
Linear(AX2) 2 outside atoms
0 lone pairs
CO2
2 outside atoms
Bent (AX2) 2 lone pairs H2O
3 outside atoms
trigonal planar 0 lone pairs
BF3
(AX3, A = boron)
4 outside atoms
Tetrahedral (AX4) 0 lone pairs
CH4
trigonal pyramidal 3 outside atoms NH3
(AX3) 1 lone pair
Write all
Polarity
• Bond Polarity
• Difference in electronegativity
between two atoms in a
chemical bond
• Unequal sharing of electrons between elements
Write all
• Ionic
Bond Polarity
• Elements on opposite sides of periodic table (metal + nonmetal)
• Examples
• NaCl, LiF, ZnCl
• Polar Covalent (unequal sharing)
• Two elements on right side (both nonmetals) of periodic table
• C-O, S-O, P-Br
• Nonpolar covalent (equal sharing)
• Two of the same element on the right side of the periodic table
• H-H, Cl-Cl, O=O
Write all
Molecular Polarities
• Polar molecules occur when electrons are NOT
distributed equally
• Look for symmetry within molecule
• Only one line of symmetry – Polar molecule
• Polar shapes
• Trigonal pyramidal
• Bent
• These rules will apply regardless of the number of
atoms on the molecule with these shapes
Write all
Molecular Polarities
• Nonpolar molecules occur when electrons are
distributed equally
• Look for symmetry within molecule
• More than one line of symmetry – Nonpolar molecule
• Nonpolar shapes
• Linear
• Trigonal Planar
• Tetrahedral
• These are just guidelines for binary compounds (two
elements). Compounds with multiple elements and
organics do not apply to these rules.
Skills to Master
• Drawing Lewis dot structures from a given
molecular formula
• Assigning a shape based on a molecular formula
(or Lewis dot structure)
• Determine whether a bond is polar or nonpolar
• Determine whether a molecule is polar or
nonpolar based on formula (or Lewis dot structure)
Terms To Know
• Lewis Dot Structure
• Structural formula
• Linear
• Bent
• Trigonal pyramidal
• Trigonal planar
• Tetrahedral
• Polarity
• Electronegativity (review)
• Polar
• Polar covalent
• Nonpolar
• Nonpolar covalent
