Atoms, Molecules and Ions

Chapter 2

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A molecule is an aggregate of two or more atoms in a
definite arrangement held together by chemical forces

H2 H2O NH3 CH4

A diatomic molecule contains only two atoms

H2, N2, O2, Br2, HCl, CO

A polyatomic molecule contains more than two atoms

O3, H2O, NH3, CH4

2.5
An ion is an atom, or group of atoms, that has a net
positive or negative charge.
cation – ion with a positive charge
If a neutral atom loses one or more electrons
it becomes a cation.

11 protons 11 protons
Na 11 electrons Na +
10 electrons

anion – ion with a negative charge

If a neutral atom gains one or more electrons
it becomes an anion.
17 protons 17 protons
Cl 17 electrons Cl-
18 electrons
2.5
2.5
 Lewis Structure
Is a representation of covalent bonding in which
shared electron pairs are shown either as lines or as
pairs of dots between two atoms and lone pairs are
shown as pairs of dots on individual atoms.
 Writing Lewis Structures

1. Draw skeletal structure of compound showing

what atoms are bonded to each other. Put least
electronegative element in the center.
2. Count total number of valence e-. Add 1 for
each negative charge. Subtract 1 for each
positive charge.
3. Complete an octet for all atoms except
hydrogen
4. If structure contains too many electrons, form
double and triple bonds on central atom as
needed.
9.6
An atom’s formal charge is the difference between
the number of valence electrons in an isolated atom
and the number of electrons assigned to that atom
in a Lewis structure.

formal charge total number

total number total number
on an atom in
a Lewis
structure
=
of valence
electrons in -
the free atom
of nonbonding
electrons
-
1
2 ( of bonding
electrons )
The sum of the formal charges of the atoms in a
molecule or ion must equal the charge on the
molecule or ion. 9.7
 Exceptions to the Octet Rule

The Incomplete Octet

Be – 2e-
BeH2 2H – 2x1e- H Be H
4e-

B – 3e- 3 single bonds (3x2) = 6

BF3 3F – 3x7e- F B F 9 lone pairs (9x2) = 18
24e- Total = 24
F

9.9
Resonance
structures are used when
a single Lewis structure
cannot fully describe the
bonding; the combination of
possible resonance
structures is defined as
a resonance hybrid,
which represents the
overall delocalization of
electrons within the
molecule.
 Exceptions to the Octet Rule

Odd-Electron Molecules

N – 5e-
NO O – 6e- N O
11e-
The Expanded Octet (central atom with principal quantum number n
> 2)

F
S – 6e- F F 6 single bonds (6x2) = 12
SF6 6F – 42e- S 18 lone pairs (18x2) = 36
48e- Total = 48
F F
F
9.9
 H 0 0 C – 4 e- 2 single bonds (2x2) = 4
O – 6 e- 1 double bond = 4
C O
H 2H – 2x1 e- 2 lone pairs (2x2) = 4
12 e- Total = 12

formal charge total number

total number total number
on an atom in
a Lewis
structure
=
of valence
electrons in -
the free atom
of nonbonding
electrons
-
1
2 ( of bonding
electrons )
formal charge
on C = 4 -0 -½ x 8 = 0
formal charge
on O = 6 -4 -½ x 4 = 0

9.7
 Formal Charge and Lewis Structures
1. For neutral molecules, a Lewis structure in which there
are no formal charges is preferable to one in which
formal charges are present.
2. Lewis structures with large formal charges are less
plausible than those with small formal charges.
3. Among Lewis structures having similar distributions of
formal charges, the most plausible structure is the one in
which negative formal charges are placed on the more
electronegative atoms.

Which is the most likely Lewis structure for CH2O?

-1 +1 H 0 0
H C O H C O
H
9.7