LEWIS STRUCTURES
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
1
Lewis “dot-line” representations of
atoms and molecules
• Electrons of an atom are of two
types:
• Core electrons and Valence
electrons
• Only the valence electrons are
shown in Lewis dot-line structures
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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• The number of valence
electrons is equal to the group
number of the element for the
representative elements
• For atoms the first four dots
are displayed around the four
“sides” of the symbol for the
atom.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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• If there are more than four
electrons, the dots are paired
with those already present
until an octet is achieved
• Ionic compounds are
produced by complete
transfer of an electron from
one atom to another
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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• Covalent compounds are
produced by sharing of one or
more pairs of electrons by two
atoms.
•The valence capacity of an
atom is the atom’s ability to
form bonds with other atoms.
•The more bonds the higher
the valence.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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The valence of an atom is not
fixed, but some atoms have typical
valences which are most common:
Carbon: valence of 4
Nitrogen: valence of 3
Oxygen: valence of 2
Fluorine: valence of 1
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Covalent bonding and Lewis structures
• Covalent bonds are formed from
sharing of electrons by two atoms
• Molecules possess only covalent
bonds
• The bedrock rule for writing Lewis
structures for the first full row of
the periodic table is the octet rule
for C, N, O and F
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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• C, N, O and F atoms are
always surrounded by
eight valence electrons
• For hydrogen atoms, the
doublet rule is applied: H
atoms are surrounded by
two valence electrons.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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The Lewis Model of Chemical
Bonding

In 1916 G. N. Lewis proposed that atoms
combine in order to achieve a more stable
electron configuration.
 Maximum stability results when an atom
is isoelectronic with a noble gas.
 An electron pair that is shared between
two atoms constitutes a covalent bond.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Covalent Bonding in H2
Two hydrogen atoms, each with 1 electron,
H.
.H
can share those electrons in a covalent
bond.
H: H
 Sharing the electron pair gives each hydrogen an
electron configuration analogous to helium.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Example
Combine carbon (4 valence electrons)
and four fluorines (7 valence electrons
each)
.
..
. C.
.
: ..
F.
to write a Lewis structure for CF4.
..
.. : ..F: ..
:
:
F
: ..F: C
..
..
: ..F:
The octet rule is satisfied for carbon and
each fluorine.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Example
It is common practice to represent a covalent
bond by a line. We can rewrite
..
.. : ..F: ..
:
: ..F: C
.. : ..F
: ..F:
..
: F:
as
..
: ..
F
C
..
..F:
: ..F:
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Double Bonds and
Triple Bonds
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Inorganic examples
..
..
: O: : C : : O:
..
:O
C
..
O:
C
N:
Carbon dioxide
H : C : :: N:
H
Hydrogen cyanide
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Organic examples
H
.. H
..
H: C : : C:H
H
Ethylene
H
C
C
H
H
H : C : :: C:H
Acetylene
H
Dr Seemal Jelani
C
4/13/2015
C
H
15
Formal Charges
Revision
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
16
 Formal charge is the charge
calculated for an atom in a
Lewis structure on the basis
of an equal sharing of
bonded electron pairs.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Nitric acid
Formal charge of H
H
..
O
..
..
O:
N
:O
.. :
 We will calculate the formal charge for each
atom in this Lewis structure.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Nitric acid
Formal charge of H
H
..
O
..
..
O:
N
:O
.. :
 Hydrogen shares 2 electrons with oxygen.
 Assign 1 electron to H and 1 to O.
 A neutral hydrogen atom has 1 electron.
 Therefore, the formal charge of H in nitric acid is
0.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Nitric acid
Formal charge of O
H
..
O
..
..
O:
N
:O
.. :
 Oxygen has 4 electrons in covalent bonds.
 Assign 2 of these 4 electrons to O.
 Oxygen has 2 unshared pairs. Assign all 4 of
these electrons to O.
 Therefore, the total number of electrons assigned
to O is 2 + 4 = 6.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Nitric acid
Formal charge of O
H
..
O
..
..
O:
N
:O
.. :
 Electron count of O is 6.
 A neutral oxygen has 6 electrons.
 Therefore, the formal charge of O is 0.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Nitric acid
Formal charge of O
H
..
O
..
..
O:
N
:O
.. :
 Electron count of O is 6 (4 electrons from
unshared pairs + half of 4 bonded electrons).
 A neutral oxygen has 6 electrons.
 Therefore, the formal charge of O is 0.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Nitric acid
Formal charge of O
H
..
O
..
..
O:
N
:O
.. :
 Electron count of O is 7 (6 electrons from
unshared pairs + half of 2 bonded electrons).
 A neutral oxygen has 6 electrons.
 Therefore, the formal charge of O is -1.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Nitric acid
Formal charge of N
H
..
O
..
..
O:
N
–
:
:O
..
 Electron count of N is 4 (half of 8 electrons in
covalent bonds).
 A neutral nitrogen has 5 electrons.
 Therefore, the formal charge of N is +1.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Nitric acid
Formal charges
H
..
O
..
..
O:
N+
–
:
:O
..
 A Lewis structure is not complete unless
formal charges (if any) are shown.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Formal Charge
An arithmetic formula for calculating formal charge.
Formal charge =
group number
number of
number of
–
–
in periodic table
bonds
unshared electrons
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4/13/2015
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"Electron counts" and formal
charges in NH4+ and BF4-
1
H
+
H
4
N
H
H
..
: F:
..
– ..
: ..
F B ..F:
: ..F:
Dr Seemal Jelani
7
4
4/13/2015
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CONDENSED STRUCTURAL
FORMULAS
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Condensed structural formulas
 Lewis structures in which many (or all)
covalent bonds and electron pairs are
omitted.
H
H
H
H
C
C
C
H : O: H
H
H
can be condensed to:
CH3CHCH3 or (CH3)2CHOH
OH
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Bond-line formulas
CH3CH2CH2CH3 is shown as
CH3CH2CH2CH2OH is shown as
OH
 Omit atom symbols. Represent
structure by showing bonds between
carbons and atoms other than
hydrogen.
 Atoms other than carbon and
hydrogen are called heteroatoms.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
30
Bond-line formulas
H
Cl
Cl
C
H2C
CH2
H2C
CH2
is shown as
C
H
H
 Omit atom symbols. Represent
structure by showing bonds between
carbons and atoms other than
hydrogen.
 Atoms other than carbon and
hydrogen are called heteroatoms.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
31
Constitutional Isomers
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Constitutional isomers

Isomers are different compounds
that have the same molecular formula.

Constitutional isomers are isomers
that differ in the order in which the
atoms are connected.

An older term for constitutional
isomers is “structural isomers.”
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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A Historical Note
NH4OCN
Ammonium cyanate
O
H2NCNH2
Urea

In 1823 Friedrich Wöhler discovered that
when ammonium cyanate was dissolved in hot
water, it was converted to urea.

Ammonium cyanate and urea are
constitutional isomers of CH4N2O.

Ammonium cyanate is “inorganic.” Urea is
“organic.” Wöhler is credited with an important
early contribution that helped overturn the
theory of “vitalism.”
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Examples of constitutional
isomers
H
H
C
H
..
O:
H
N+
:O
..
H
–
:
Nitromethane
C
..
O
..
N
..
..
O:
H
Methyl nitrite
 Both have the molecular formula CH3NO2 but
the atoms are connected in a different order.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Shapes
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4/13/2015
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Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Methane
tetrahedral geometry
H—C—H angle = 109.5°
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Methane
tetrahedral geometry
each H—C—H angle = 109.5°
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Valence Shell Electron Pair
Repulsions
 The most stable arrangement of groups
attached to a central atom is the one that has
the maximum separation of electron pairs
(bonded or nonbonded).
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Water
bent geometry
H—O—H angle = 105°
H
H
:
O
..
but notice the tetrahedral arrangement
of electron pairs
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
41
Ammonia
trigonal pyramidal geometry
H—N—H angle = 107°
H
H
N
:
H
but notice the tetrahedral arrangement
of electron pairs
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
42
Boron Trifluoride
F—B—F angle = 120°
trigonal planar geometry
allows for maximum separation
of three electron pairs
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Formaldehyde: CH2=O
H—C—H and H—C—O
angles are close to 120°
trigonal planar geometry
H
C
O
H
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
44
Figure 1.12:
Carbon Dioxide
O—C—O angle = 180°
linear geometry
O
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C
4/13/2015
O
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Polar Covalent Bonds
and
Electronegativity
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
46
 Electronegativity is a measure of an
element to attract electrons toward
itself
when bonded to another element.
 An electronegative element attracts
electrons.
 An electropositive element releases
electrons.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Pauling Electronegativity Scale
Li
Be
B
C
N
O
F
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
Na
Mg
Al
Si
P
S
Cl
0.9
1.2
1.5
1.8
2.1
2.5
3.0
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Electronegativity increases
 from left to right in the
periodic table
Electronegativity
decreases going down a
group.
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Generalization
H—H
..
: ..
F
..
F:
..
:N
N:
Nonpolar bonds connect
atoms of the same
electronegativity
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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Generalization
 The greater the difference in electronegativity
between two bonded atoms; the more polar the
bond.
d+
H
.. dF:
..
d+
H
d..
d+
O H
..
d- d+
:O C
..
dO
.. :
polar bonds connect atoms of
different electronegativity
Dr Seemal Jelani
4/13/2015
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