CHEM 1701 – Lab 5 – Lewis Structures and VSEPR

Chemistry I for Pre-Health Sciences (online)

____/40 marks (6% of final grade)

Rationale
Create Lewis structures and predict shapes of covalent compounds with respect to the octet rule and VSEPR
rules; bond polarity of the molecule will also be determined (polar or non-polar).

Learning Objectives Addressed

The following learning objectives are covered in this lab:
 CLO 6: Prepare for and conduct laboratory experiments to investigate scientific questions using
appropriate techniques.
 CLO 7: Examine the relationships between chemistry and the health of the human body.
 LO 4.9: Draw Lewis structures for covalent compounds
 LO 4.10: Use VSEPR theory to predict the shapes of molecules

Procedure & Observations

 Be sure to review the lab in its entirety before beginning.
 Throughout the lab you are required to photograph parts of your experiment
and include these photos in your final submission.

Handing in your lab

When complete, submit your work to the appropriate folder in DC Connect under Assignments.

All materials needed throughout this lab:

 Coloured marshmallows, jube-jubes, beads, pompoms or some kind of coloured something for atoms
 Tooth picks or some type of covalent bonds

NOTES:
 All work must be done by you. Internet images cannot be used.
 My writing is messy and its okay if yours is too 😊 Try your best to make your work legible. Unfortunately, if
I cannot read it, I cannot grade it.

Introduction
Some key definitions of concepts used in this lab are as follows.
 Valence electrons: outermost electrons that participate in chemical reactions
 Lewis dot diagram: represents valence electrons for a single atom
 Lewis dot structure: represents the ways bonds are made in a molecule
 VSEPR: valence shell electron pair repulsion theory

Lewis Dot Diagrams

A Lewis dot diagram is a simplified diagram that shows only the valence electrons of atoms. This is valuable
information as only the valence electrons participate in bonding and chemical reactions. Electrons are shown
as dots placed around a central element symbol. Lewis dot diagrams can be drawn for the representative
elements (groups 1-2, 13-18) as shown below.
Review: Bond Polarity & Covalent Bonds
Covalent Chemical Bonds
Atoms will transfer valence electrons (via an ionic bond) or share valence electrons (via a covalent bond) in
order to fill a stable octet 8 valence of electrons (except hydrogen which has a stable configuration with 2
valence electrons). We focus on covalent bonds in this lab.

Covalent bonds are formed when 2 non-metals combine. The atoms in the bond share valence electrons
because they both want to receive electrons.

Bond Polarity & Delta Notation

Covalent bonds can be classified as polar or non-polar. The polarity in a bond takes into account the
electronegativity of the atoms in the bond.

Bond polarity is shown using delta notation. Delta notation uses 2 symbols (δ+, δ-) and an arrow
( ) to show the direction of polarity.

*REMINDER: covalent bonds form when 2 non-metals bond

The image below shows how delta notation would be applied to a molecule of water, H2O.

VSEPR Theory (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion)

VSEPR theory explains or predicts the 3D shape of a molecule. Each shape is given a name (i.e. trigonal
planar). The name of the shape is based on how many bonding e- pairs and non-bonding e- pairs are on the
central atom. To predict the VSEPR shape, we must first draw its Lewis structure to determine the number of
bonding and non-bonding pairs in the central atom.

There are VSEPR shapes and names beyond those included in the table below. For a comprehensive
list, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSEPR_theory. For our purposes, we will focus on the ones below
as they are the most common.

BeH2, HF H2O BF3 NH3 CH4

Your instructor will go through the following examples with you.
In your lab, you will show:
 Lewis structure and delta notation
 ΔEN calculations
 Polar or non-polar bonds
 VSEPR shape
 3D representation of each molecule (internet images cannot be used)
Please watch the following video to see examples of H2O, N2 and BH3

Link: https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cYXQcQM39T
Experiment [35 marks]
Instructions
For each molecule, use the materials you have collected to build the molecule. For each molecule, complete
the following tasks and record in the table that follows.
1. Lewis dot structure for each atom and delta notation for each bond
2. Calculate ΔEN between atoms
3. Identify the bond as polar or non-polar
4. Name the VSEPR shape [refer to the VSEPR examples]
5. Build each molecule using the materials you have collected

*Please note: You can use the “Draw” function in Word or draw by hand on a piece of paper, Take pictures
photograph and insert the image. If you do not need the photo place holder provided, you can delete it.

[5 marks] Molecule = Cl2O

Detailed Lewis structure with VSEPR structure
ΔEN Polarity VSEPR shape
delta notation [drawn by you] [built by you]

Linear ☐
Polar
Bent ☒
☒
Tetrahedral ☐
0.5 Non-polar
Trigonal pyramidal ☐
☐
Trigonal planar ☐

[5 marks] Molecule = H2
Lewis diagram & delta notation ΔEN Polarity VSEPR shape Molecule Model

Linear ☒
Polar
Bent ☐
☐
Tetrahedral ☐
0 Non-polar
Trigonal pyramidal ☐
☒
Trigonal planar ☐

[5 marks] Molecule = BrCl

Lewis diagram & delta notation ΔEN Polarity VSEPR shape Molecule Model

Linear ☒
Polar
Bent ☐
0.2 ☒
Tetrahedral ☐
Non-polar
Trigonal pyramidal ☐
☐
Trigonal planar ☐
[5 marks] Molecule = NF3
Lewis diagram & delta notation ΔEN Polarity VSEPR shape Molecule Model

Linear ☐
Polar
Bent ☐
☒
1 Tetrahedral ☐
Non-polar
Trigonal pyramidal ☒
☐
Trigonal planar ☐

[5 marks] Molecule = BI3

Lewis diagram & delta notation ΔEN Polarity VSEPR shape Molecule Model

Linear ☐
Polar
Bent ☐
☒
Tetrahedral ☐
0.5 Non-polar
Trigonal pyramidal ☐
☐
Trigonal planar ☒

[5 marks] Molecule = CCl4

Lewis diagram & delta notation ΔEN Polarity VSEPR shape Molecule Model

Linear ☐
Polar
Bent ☐
☒
Tetrahedral ☒
0.5 Non-polar
Trigonal pyramidal ☐
☐
Trigonal planar ☐

[5 marks] Molecule = CO2

Lewis diagram & delta notation ΔEN Polarity VSEPR shape Molecule Model

Linear ☒
Polar
Bent ☐
☒
Tetrahedral ☐
1 Non-polar
Trigonal pyramidal ☐
☐
Trigonal planar ☐
Analysis [5 marks]
1. A molecule like CH2ClF contains a central carbon atom with different attachments.
a. [2 marks] The central carbon atom for CH2ClF is provided below. How would the other atoms be
attached? Apply delta notion to EACH bond. Post your drawing below.

b. [1 mark] What do you notice about the direction of polarity for each bond? Do all bonds have
the same direction of polarity?
I noticed that half of the bonds were positive towards the centre, where the other
half was negative towards the centre. I also noticed that not all of the bonds had
the same direction of polarity.
2. Molecule polarity is connected to how the body absorbs and excretes harmful chemicals.

Fat molecules are non-polar and as a result, fat can absorb harmful non-polar chemicals. Molecules
absorbed this way are called “fat soluble”. This can be dangerous because the toxic chemicals will only
be released once the fat tissue is broken down. Therefore, these toxic chemicals can stay in the body for
long periods of time causing toxicity.

Water molecules are polar and will absorb polar molecules. Molecules absorbed this way are called “water
soluble”. Toxic chemicals that are water soluble can be less harmful as after the water absorbs the
chemical, the water can be easily excreted (i.e. in urine) carrying away the toxic chemicals with it.

Many of the B vitamins are polar.

a. [1 mark] Would you expect the B vitamins to be fat soluble or water soluble once in the body?
Why? Comment in 1-2 sentences.

I would expect the B vitamin to be water soluble once in the body. I would expect
this because they are polar, meaning that they will be absorbed by polar water
molecules.

b. [1 mark] Would you expect to see B vitamins in a urine sample? Why or why not? Comment in 1-2
sentences.
Yes, I would expect to see B vitamins in a urine sample. I would expect them as
they are water soluble, and would therefore be excreted from the body through
urine, not excreted when fat tissues are broken down.