2+

Differentiating Atoms, Molecules, and Ions Ca atom → Ca ion + 2e-

Atoms vs. Molecules Some metal can have more than one charge:
multivalent ions.
Molecules- made from the combination of two or +
more atoms bonded together by a strong force of Cu → Cu + e-
interaction. 2+
Cu → Cu + 2 e-
-the smallest part of a substance that retains the Nonmetals typically gain electrons to form
physical and chemical properties of substance.
anions.
-
some elements exist naturally as molecules
Cl atom + e- → Cl ion
 diatomic molecules → hydrogen (H2), 2-
O atom + 2e- → O ion
oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2)
 sulfur (S8) Polyatomic Ions
 phosphorus (P4) -ions that contain more than one type of atom
-atoms are held together by strong covalent
Compounds- exist as molecules. It is the
combination of two or more atoms. bonds

carbon dioxide (CO2) from gas emissions

table salt (NaCl)

table sugar (C12H22O11)

-A molecule is made up of atoms of different ammonium cation hydroxide anion

elements that are chemically bonded together. It
represents the smallest unit of a compound. Ionic Compounds- made from the combination
of cations and anions. Held together by strong
Ions and Ionic Compounds electrostatic forces between oppositely charged
ions. Electrically neutral
Ions- chemical species with an overall electrical
charge form when electrons move from one The structure of NaCl
species to another and the overall number of where green sphere are Cl-
protons and electrons changes ions and the blue sphere
are Na+ cations.
 atoms gain or lose electrons
 a proton never comes out of an atom -solid at room temperature

Anion- negatively charged species
-number of electrons > number of protons
Cation- positively charged species
-number of electrons < number of protons
-Ions, charged species, are formed from the
movement of electrons from one atom to another.
The number of protons in the atom is unchanged.
-requires high temperature to break the attraction
of ions and melt the compound.
strong electrolytes - species that conduct
electricity when dissolved in water as ions are
free to move in solution.
nonelectrolytes - species that do not conduct
electricity.
Lewis Structures of Covalent Compounds

Monoatomic Ions Water is a molecular compound. It is made up of

two nonmetal atoms—hydrogen and oxygen—
Metals typically lose electrons to form cations. linked together by covalent bonds.
+
Na atom → Na ion + e-
Lewis structures help in understanding the For HCN, the central atom is C.
behavior of molecules by acting like a framework
that can be used to identify the properties of Step 2: Draw a skeleton of the molecule by
different substances. joining atoms using single bonds.

Octet Rule and Covalent Compounds  attach the central atoms to the peripheral
atoms using single bonds.
Gilbert Newton Lewis suggested that by sharing
electrons, nonmetal atoms acquire a stable noble
gas configuration.
Step 3: Count the number of available valence
 Two hydrogen atoms form H2 molecule. electrons (A).

molecules = sum of all valence electrons of the

atoms

ions = sum of all the valence electrons of the

Each hydrogen has 2 electrons similar to helium atoms ± charge
atom.
cation : + charge
 Hydrogen and fluorine atom form HF
molecule. anion: - charge

 For HCN,

Hydrogen has 2 electrons (similar to He).

Fluorine has 8 electrons (similar to Ne). Step 4: Determine the number of nonbonding
electrons.
Lewis Structures
For HCN,

-only valence electrons are shown. Occurs as

bonding pairs (lines) or nonbonding pair (lone Step 5: Distribute the nonbonding electrons.
pairs, indicated by dots)
complete octet for peripheral atoms before adding
 single bond = 2 bonding electrons = single lone pairs to the central atom
line
 double bond = 4 bonding electrons =
double line
 triple bond = 6 bonding electrons = triple Step 6: Add multiple bonds, if necessary.
line

For example, let us draw the Lewis structure for

HCN For compounds with elements up to period 2, a
shorter method to draw Lewis structures is using
Step 1: Determine the central atom. the NASU rule.

 central atom : N needed

-least electronegative atom, or
-requires largest number of electrons to A available
achieve octet S shared
U unshared Draw the Lewis structure of nitrogen trichloride
(NCl3).
N refers to the total number of electrons needed
to achieve noble gas configuration. A refers to the
total number of valence electrons from each
atom.

S refers to the number of shared electrons. It can

be calculated using the formula N−A. The number Draw the Lewis structure of O3.
of bonds can be calculated by getting the half of
S.

U refers to the number of nonbonding electrons.

This can be calculated using the formula A−S.

Resonance Structures

Formic acid CH2O2 has two possible Lewis

structures.

-set of more than two Lewis structures used to

describe bonding in a molecule or ion.

-resonance hybrid - intermediate of all resonance

structures Using the concept of formal charges, determine
the most plausible Lewis structure for formic acid.
Exceptions to the Octet Rule
The more plausible Lewis structure for formic acid
Less than octet is

 Hydrogen and helium :2

 Beryllium: 4
 Boron: 6
Thiocyanate (NCS-) has three possible Lewis
structures.

Using the concept of formal charges, determine

-Greater than octet the most plausible Lewis structure for formic acid.

“expanded octet”

-compounds with central atom from period 3 and

higher

-can accommodate more than 8 due to the

availability of d-orbitals

 Greater than octet