LEWIS DOT APPROACH TO MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

LEWIS DOT APPROACH TO MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

Predicts geometry, polarity, basicity, etc.
ONE COVALENT BOND = 2 SHARED ELECTRONS
1) Count total number of electrons available (by the row in the periodic table, e.g. C=4, N=5, O=6, F=7, Ne=8)
2) Find out how many electrons are needed: 8 for each C,N,O,F and related elements 2 for H
3) [(2)-(1)] / 2 = number of bonds in the molecule
4) After placing bonds, complete octets
5) Count electrons around atoms and place charges
6) Make sure total charge, total number of electrons and octets work out