Writing Lewis Dot Structures

(Electron Dot Structures)

Valence Electrons

Valence Electrons are the electrons in the

highest occupied energy level of an atom
You can tell the number of valence electrons
from the group number of the element
Octet Rule
 Octet rule says that atoms like to have full
outer shells of only eight electrons.

 Atoms will lose or gain valence electrons to

make their outer shells full with eight electrons,
and they do this by bonding with other atoms.
Lewis Dot Structure (Electron Dot
Structure)
 A Lewis dot structure is a quick and easy
diagram that shows the valence electrons in an
element. In a Lewis structure, the nucleus of the
element is represented by its symbol. The valence
electrons are represented by dots placed around the
symbol in pairs.
Rule #1
No side can have more than two dots because each
orbital can only hold two electrons.
Rule #2
When filling the sides of the element symbol, each
side gets one dot before doubling up. Exceptions are
hydrogen and helium.
Across Period 2
Formation of Cations
Cation -a positively charged ion

Na  Na+ + e-
Mg  Mg2+ + 2e-
Formation of Anions
Anion- negatively charged ion

Cl + 1e-  Cl -
What is the Lewis electron dot diagram for
each ion?
Ca2+
O2−
 Solution
 Having lost its two original valence electrons, the Lewis
electron dot diagram is just Ca2+.
Ca2+
 The O2− ion has gained two electrons in its valence shell,
so its Lewis electron dot diagram is as follows:
SUMMARY
Lewis electron dot diagrams use dots to represent
valence electrons around an atomic symbol.
Lewis electron dot diagrams for ions have less (for
cations) or more (for anions) dots than the
corresponding atom.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each
element.
bromine
barium

2. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each ion.

Mg2+
S2−
Writing the Lewis Structure of Ionic Compounds

1. Write the Lewis electron dot structure of the cation. Use a

coefficient to indicate the number of cations in the chemical
formula.
2. Draw the Lewis electron dot structure of the anion after the
cation. Enclose the anion structure with a square bracket [ ].
 Lewis Structure, Octet Rule Guidelines

When compounds are formed, they tend to follow the Octet

Rule.

. will share electrons (e -) until it is

Octet Rule: Atoms
surrounded by eight valence electrons.
Rules of the (VSEPR) game

i) Octet Rule works mostly for second period elements.

Many exceptions especially with 3rd period elements (d-orbitals).

ii) H prefers 2 e- to become isoelectronic with helium

iii) H & F are terminal in the structural formula (Never central)

Writing Lewis Structure of Covalent Compounds

1. Count the number of total valence electron available in the compound.

2. Determine the number of electrons needed to have an octet for each
atom.
3. Determine the number of bonding pairs in the structure.
Bonding pairs = # of electrons needed for an octet- available e-s
2

4. Draw the structure with the most metallic element as the central atom.
Note:
The Octet Rule works most especially for period 1 and 2
elements. Exceptions occur mostly in period 3 and beyond.
Example:
Write the Lewis structure of

a) HCl

b) CCl4

c) CO2

d) PF5
Geometry of Molecules
Molecule Shapes - VSEPR | Lone Pairs | Bonds - PhET
Interactive Simulations (colorado.edu)