SCH 102 Lecture 3 (2024)

Lewis Structures, Formal Charges and Resonance Structures

Lecture Outline
3.0 Introduction
3.1 Expected Learning Outcomes
3.2 Chemical Structure
3.3 Lewis Structures
3.4 Formal Charges
3.5 Resonance Structures
3.6 Lecture Summary
3.7 Self-Assessment Questions

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3.0 Introduction
Well come to the 3rd Lecture in this course. In Lecture 2, we discussed the
structure of an atom and chemical bonding. We saw that, valence shell electrons
are the ones involved in forming a chemical bond. In this Lecture, we shall discuss
the way the atoms in an organic compound are connected to give a chemical
structure. The chemical structure of an organic molecule can best be described
using 3 basic parameters:
1. Lewis diagrams
2. Hybridization / shapes of molecules based on the bond arrangements
3. Spatial arrangement of atoms in space (stereochemistry)

This lecture will cover “Lewis structure” of a molecule / ion and assignment of
“formal charges” on most stable Lewis structure of a molecule. We shall end the
lecture by discussing resonance structures. Hybridization and stereochemistry
will be covered later in the course. 2
3.1 Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of this Lecture, you should be able to:
1. Write the Lewis structure of organic molecules and / or ions
2. Assign formal charge of an atom in a molecule and / or ion
3. Draw resonance structures of molecules that can be represented by different
Lewis structures

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3.2

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Let us watch the following videos to understand Lewis structures and answer the
questions that follow.
• https://youtu.be/Sk7W2VgbhOg
• https://youtu.be/cIuXl7o6mAw

1. Write the Lewis structure of the following molecules: H2S, HCN, BF3, SO2

2. What is the correct Lewis structure of SO3? Watch the video below for
guidance.
• https://youtu.be/H0ssvEHn7-s

We shall discuss more on “formal charges” later in this lecture

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 3.3 Lewis Structures
Definition

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3.4 Formal Charges
Definition
• https://youtu.be/vOFAPlq4y_k
• https://youtu.be/Kv5y3t9jsi4
• https://youtu.be/R_SIjijCouE
1. What is the significance of
determining “formal charge” of an
atom? 2. Give the most stable Lewis
structure of: SO2, HNO2, SO3, H3O+,
OCN-, NO3- (Indicate the formal
charge on each atom in the structure) 25
• Formal charges help us write the most stable Lewis structure of a molecule or ion
that has different possible structures (resonance forms)
• The most stable Lewis structure is one with atoms with formal charges close to
zero
• If more than one possible structures places similar formal charges on different
atoms, choose the most logical one based on electronegativity measures.

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EXCEPTIONS TO THE OCTET RULE CONTINUED………

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Assign the formal charges of
each atom in these
compounds

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3.5 Resonance Structures
Resonance structures are different ways of representing a molecule. They result
from delocalization of pi-bond electrons and / or lone pairs of electrons in the
atoms making the molecule. The following videos will assist us understand the
concept of resonance:
• https://youtu.be/D_vh0A7BpIk
• https://youtu.be/9B5FGPDwX_E
• https://youtu.be/bUCu7bPkZeI
• https://youtu.be/oxf0LMJTklg
• https://youtu.be/fYCzeFEAfjg
1. What is a resonance hybrid?
2. Give the resonance structures of the following ions and the
resonance hybrid of each (indicate formal charges on each atom): (i) NO3-
(ii) NO2- (iii) CO32- (iv) Benzene (v) Phenoxide anion
Sigma bond electrons do not participate in resonance structures
because they are not delocalized. 34
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3.6 Lecture Summary
Lewis structure of a molecule is a diagram that show the bonding between
atoms of a covalently bonded molecule or coordination compounds, as well as
the lone pairs of electrons that may exist in the molecule.

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• A formal charge (F.C.) / fake charge is the charge assigned to an atom in a
molecule, assuming that electrons in all chemical bonds are shared equally
between atoms, regardless of relative electronegativity.
• When determining the best Lewis structure (or predominant resonance
structure) for a molecule, the structure is chosen such that the formal charge
on each of the atoms is as close to zero as possible.

(O3) (NO3-)
• Resonance structures are sets of Lewis structures that describe the
delocalization of electrons in a polyatomic ion or a molecule.
• Resonance is a way of describing the combination of several contributing
structures or forms (also known as resonance structures or canonical
structures) into a hybrid resonance (or hybrid structure) in valence bond
theory in certain molecules or ions. 58
 HYBRID STRUCTURE
3.7 Self-Assessment Questions
1. Assign a formal charge of every atom in the most stable Lewis structure in:
(i) SO32- (ii) HSO4- (iii) CO32- (iv) HCO2H (v) SO42- for a normal octet (vi) CH3NH2
2. With suitable illustrations, differentiate between, a formal charge and an
oxidation state.
3. Draw the resonance structures (canonical forms) of the following molecule /
ions and with reasons indicate the major contributor of each.
(i) C3H6O (acetone)
(iii) [C3H5O]- (acetone anion)
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(ii) [C H O]