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Understanding how atoms bond gives us the power of predicting chemical behavior.
Drawing Lewis structures and predicting the resulting molecular shapes is discussed. The
chemical interactions based on shape, including electronegativity and polarity, are also
explained.
Lecture Outline
Lewis Structure
All covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons. By understanding how the atoms
bond to each other, the students can begin to understand why species react the way they do.
Molecular Shapes
The most effective way for students to remember the various molecular shapes is to
memorize one example of each. For example, remember that NH 3 is trigonal pyramidal and has
three bonds and one lone pair. H 2 O has two lone pairs and two bonds, and the geometry is bent.
Electronegativity
Some atoms hold on to electrons tighter than others. In some interactions, the bonding is
therefore uneven. Atoms are involved in a sort of tug-of-war with the electrons. A purely
10.1. Magnesium has just 2 valence electrons, so the Lewis structure is •Mg•
10.2. NaBr is an ionic compound, so Na donates the 1 valence shell electron it has to bromine,
which then has an octet in its valence shell. Sodium has a +1 charge and Br has a –1
charge. The Lewis structure is thus Na+ [: Br :]-
10.3. Since Mg has a +2 charge and N has a –3 charge, the molecular formula is Mg 3 N 2 . The
Lewis structure is Mg+2[: N :]-3 Mg+2[: N :]-3 Mg+2
10.4. Carbon monoxide has a total of 4 + 6 = 10 valence electrons. The skeletal structure is
C-O, and then we add electrons around the outer atoms, giving them octets. We can start
with : C- O :, but carbon does not have an octet, so we must form a triple bond with the
10.5. There are a total of 12 valence electron in this species. Following the symmetry
guidelines, and placing 2 electrons in for each bond, we get
Now add the remaining electrons around the outer oxygen atom
To give the carbon atom an octet, we must move a lone pair from the oxygen
10.6. The species has 7 electrons coming from the Cl and 6 coming from the O atom. This
makes a total of 13, but one more comes from the –1 charge of the ion, for a total of 14.
The two species share one pair of electrons, to give each an octet. The Lewis structure is
[: Cl : O :]-
so it wishes to make a multiple bond with one of the oxygen atoms. It does not matter
from which oxygen it comes, so there are two possible resonance structures: [ O = N - O :]-
[: O - N = O ]-
10.8. The central nitrogen has three groups of electrons around it, two of which are bonds and
one is a lone pair. The electron geometry is then trigonal planar, and the molecular
structure is bent.
10.9. The central sulfur atom has four groups of electrons around it: one a lone pair and
three bonds. This gives tetrahedral electron structure and trigonal pyramidal molecular
geometry.
10.10. a. Because two iodine atoms have the exact same electronegativity, neither is stronger
than the other. Therefore, the bond is pure covalent.
b. Cesium is a group IA metal, and bromine is a group VIIA nonmetal. When they
bond, there is a transfer of the electrons, giving an ionic bond.
c. Phosphorus and oxygen are both nonmetals and are significantly different in
electronegativity. When they bond, the electrons are shared, but oxygen has a
larger pull, so there is a small dipole moment. The bond is polar covalent.
10.11. CH 4 has a tetrahedral electron geometry and a tetrahedral molecular geometry. Since all
of the bonds are of the same slight polarity in terms of electronegativity difference and
the bonding is symmetric, the bond dipoles cancel each other out. Thus, the overall
molecule is nonpolar.
Suggested Demonstrations
Blow up four equally sized balloons and tie the knots together. The resulting structure is
tetrahedral in geometry, and you can explain how the balloons try to get as far apart as possible.
Then pop one of the balloons to show how three orbitals (balloons) orient themselves. Then pop
another balloon and explain the resulting structure change.
Have a few students (of various sizes) come to the front of the room and have them make various
molecular geometries by holding arms in various orientations. This is an effective method for
showing bond dipoles, dipole moments, and polarity.
Below are a few example questions that students answer in the guided inquiry activities provided
in the Guided Activity Workbook.
The four groups of electrons in methane get as far from each other as possible. Is the angle
between them 90°? If not, what is it?
Is a linear molecule the only one in which all the polar bonds cancel? What other geometric
arrangement of polar bonds also leads to all the polar bonds canceling?
Language: English
NEW YORK
DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY
1925
Copyright, 1925,
By DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. BY
The Quinn & Boden Company
BOOK MANUFACTURERS
RAHWAY NEW JERSEY
CONTENTS
PAGE
By Roald Amundsen
LINCOLN ELLSWORTH
THE DIRECTORS OF THE KING’S BAY
COAL COMPANY, MESSRS. BRANDAL
AND KNUTSEN
SAILMAKER RÖNNE
THROUGH THE AIR TO 88° NORTH
The day the brothers Wright rose and flew the curtain went up on a
new era in the history of mankind. Many were certain that they could
see great possibilities opening up for mankind in general, and
particularly for them in their own branch of work, but few, I think, saw
such possibilities of making a full and complete change in his work as
the Polar explorer. What he has tried for years to accomplish would
now be possible for him to achieve in a very short space of time.
Century after century had he worked with his primitive means, the dog
—the sledge. Day after day he had exerted himself with all his craft, all
his intelligence, and all his will, yet had only covered a few miles over
the vast ice desert. What courage, what tenacity, had been shown in
the fight against cold, hunger and hardships. What a brilliant example
of sacrifice and self-denial. Year after year shut up in a tiny little ship,
surrounded by the same people, equipped with only the most
necessary things, he had worked up to this time through the greatest
of difficulties, through the hardest tests—cold and darkness. And now,
all at once, in one moment, the whole of this was to be changed. Cold
and darkness should be dispersed becoming warmth and light instead;
for the complete and troublesome journey should be changed now to a
speedy flight. In truth the possibilities were great. No rationing, no
hunger or thirst—only a short flight. As in a dream, seen as a far-away
possibility, there was ignited that day a small spark which should
quickly blaze up to a mighty fire and in the course of a few years
become one of our most important means of communication.
Emerging from its swaddling-clothes, flying freed itself and went into its
cradle when Bleriot flew across the Channel. It was then speedily led
by the world’s war through its childhood where it (developing with the
years—slowly or quickly who can say?) was led into youth—into
manhood! What the possibilities would become it was difficult to say,
but one had to be satisfied with what was there—flying’s childhood.
The young inexperienced birds leaving their nests show us an
example. Some will hurt their wings, others will break them altogether,
but, it is just as certain that, just as they do, so will mankind also
succeed in reaching his goal in the world of flying.
As I learned of Bleriot’s flight, I knew at once that the time had
come to think of using the air to help the Polar expeditions. Certainly
human power and skill had overcome and conquered vast tracts of this
mighty unknown whiteness, but enormous tracts remained unexplored
—tracts which now could be reached from the air. My thoughts turned
especially to the enormous area in the Arctic which until now had
withstood every attempt. Certainly Nansen, the Duke of the Abruzzi,
and Peary had drawn lines through the unknown doing great and
brilliant work, but colossal and unknown tracts still lay in front of them
unexplored. Should we have had to continue exploration in the same
old manner we should have had to wait many years before our
knowledge had become complete. If one had used the word
“impossible” it seems absolutely reasonable to have used it in
connection with the exploration of this immense ice desert; but it
seems that the word “impossible” has been scratched out of the
dictionary of mankind. How often have we seen the impossible made
possible! What was impossible yesterday is an easy matter to-day.
Bleriot’s flight across the Channel showed me the conquering of the
impossible. When I, in the year 1909, equipped the “Fram” for a trip to
the Arctic, I had a conference with one of the most esteemed aviators
of the day. He declared himself as willing to go with me. But it never
came off, a fact which probably was for the best, as in the case of both
parties it was put off on economical grounds. I mention this in order to
draw attention to the fact that the idea of exploring the Polar regions
from the air is not a recent plan. I have been attacked from many sides
because I have “stolen” the plans of others; this seems to me childish
and scarcely worth talking about, but many people take childish things
for grim earnest if they have not a closer knowledge of the
circumstances. Therefore, these few words.
In 1914 I managed to get sufficient means to buy my first
aeroplane for use in Arctic exploration. As an independent means of
transport in those vast tracts it certainly could not be used where all
circumstances seemed to be against it, but, in conjunction with a
mother-ship, would be of invaluable service. It was therefore my