Lewis Symbols

 To keep track of valence electrons, a

system of symbols, called Lewis
symbols was designed.
 To draw a Lewis symbol, write its
chemical symbol surrounded by dots
representing its valence electrons.
 Lewis Symbols
 The lewis symbols for all eight A-
group elements of period 2 are:
 Lewis Symbols
 Lewis symbols are used mostly for
showing covalent bonds, but can be
used to describe what happens during
ion formation. For example, here is the
formation of NaCl:
 Drawing Lewis Structures
 There is a simple step by step method for
drawing Lewis structures.
 Decide which atoms are bonded.
For example, lets draw the Lewis structure
for a SO3 molecule.
 Count all valence electrons.
There are a total of 24 valence electrons in
SO3 (6 from the sulfur, and 6 each from the 3
oxygens).
 Drawing Lewis Structures
 Place two electrons in each bond.

 Complete the octets of the atoms

attached to the central atom by adding
electrons in pairs.
 Drawing Lewis Structures
 Place any remaining electrons on the central
atom in pairs.
(already has 24, no remaining electrons in this example)
 If the central atom does not have an octet, form
double bonds. If necessary form triple bonds.
 Selection of Lewis Structures
 Lewis structures are only theoretical
explanations and predictions based of
observations.
 The distance between nuclei of a bond is
called a bond length, and the energy need
to split the bond is called bond energy.
 Bond lengths and energies are different
for single, double, and triple bonds.
 Selection of Lewis Structures
 This is necessary for the observation of how
atoms are bonded.
For example, the using the rules in the
previous section, this drawing of sulfuric acid
would be:
 Selection of Lewis Structures
 But based on observation, the bonds between
the S and the O are actually shorter than
regular single bonds.
 Sulfur-oxygen double bonds are shorter than
single bonds. Therefore the real structure is
like this:
 Selection of Lewis Structures

 It doesn't seem to follow Lewis rules, but sulfur

has a valence shell that has 3s, 3p, and 3d
subshells, which can accomodate more than 8
electrons
 Formal Charges

 Sometimes, while drawing Lewis structures,

you don't have observational data to use.
 Formal charges can be used to find out what
to choose.
 Formal charge = (number of electrons in
valence shell of isolated atom) - (number of
bonds to the atom) - (number of unshared
electrons)
 Formal Charges
 For example, lets take the first
incorrect drawing of sulfuric acid.
 Formal Charges
 Formal charge on S = 6 - 4 - 0 = 2
 Formal charge on H = 1 - 1 - 0 = 0
 Formal charge on O = 6 - 2 - 4 = 0 (on
the ones bonded to H)
 Formal charge on O = 6 - 1 - 6 = -1 (on
the isolated ones)