KEY

Practice Problems (Chapter 3):

Bonding and Lewis Dot Structures
CHEM 30A

1. Calculate the difference in electronegativities for the following atoms, and state whether a bond
between them would be ionic, polar covalent, or non-polar covalent.
3.3

Difference in En
Difference in En Type of Bond Ionic
1.9
En
F 4.0 Polar Covalent
a) Na & F Na 0.9 ionic 0.5
diff. 3.1 Non-Polar
En Covalent
O 3.5 0.0
b) H & O H 2.1 polar covalent
diff. 1.4
En
C 2.5
c) C & H H 2.1 non-polar covalent
diff. 0.4
En
O 3.5
d) Mg & O Mg 1.2 ionic
diff. 2.3

2. What two factors influence whether or not a molecule will be polar overall?

1) Polarity of individual bonds: For the molecule to be polar overall, at least one bond must be polar

2) Molecular shape: For the molecule to be polar overall, the polar bonds must be oriented so that their
dipoles do not cancel each other out

3. Draw Lewis dot structures for the following atoms and simple ions. Be sure to consider the number
of paired and unpaired valence electrons.

a) N b) S
2s 2p 3s 3p

c) Ca2+ d) Se2–
4s 4p 4s 4p
4. Draw Lewis dot structures for the following molecules:
 If the bonds are significantly polar (difference in En > 0.5), show the appropriate partial charges
(+ and –) Note: Your Lewis structures do
 Using VSEPR theory, predict the molecular shape and bond angle not have to show the molecular
shapes. For example, CH4 could be
 State whether the molecule is polar or non-polar overall drawn with all four hydrogen atoms 90°
from each other. The geometry is shown
a) CH4 b) CH2O – in this key solely
to assist you in
Val. e– Val. e– your visualization
C 4 C 4 of the shapes and
H (1)4 H (1)2 bond angles.
total 8 O 6
total 12
+
En En En
C 2.5 C 2.5 O 3.5
H 2.1 tetrahedral H 2.1 C 2.5 trigonal planar
OCH = 121°
109.5° ~ 120°
diff. 0.4 diff. 0.4 diff. 1.0 HCH = 118°
non-polar molecule polar molecule

c) H2O d) NH3 –

Val. e–
– Val. e–
O 6 N 5
H (1)2 H (1)3
total 8 total 8 + +
+ + +
En En
O 3.5 bent (angular) N 3.0 trigonal pyramidal
H 2.1 < 109.5° (104.5°) H 2.1 < 109.5° (107.8°)
diff. 1.4 polar molecule diff. 0.9 polar molecule
Note: You are only required to
5. Draw Lewis Dot structures for the following polyatomic ions: know the approximate bond angles
(in bold). The exact bond angles are
 Show resonance structures where appropriate
provided only for curiosity’s sake.
 Using VSEPR theory, predict the shape and bond angle Val. e–
C 4
a) NH4+ b) 2– O (6)3
CO3 charge 2 trigonal planar
120°
Val. e– total 24
N 5
H (1)4
charge –1
total 8
tetrahedral
109.5°
Val. e–
c) NO2– N 5 d) CN–
O (6)2 bent (angular) linear
1 Val. e–
charge < 120° (115.4°) no bond angle (only 2 atoms)
N 5
total 18
C 4
charge 1
total 10