Learning Objectives

• Chemistry Lewis Structure
• Lewis Dot Chemistry
• Lewis Dot Structure Chemistry
• Lewis Dot Structures
• Chemistry Lewis Dot Structure Calculator Online

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Write Lewis symbols for neutral atoms and ions

• Lewis dot structures also called electron dot structures are diagrams that describe the chemical bonding between atoms in a molecule. They also display the total number of lone pairs present in each of the atoms that constitute the molecule. Lewis dot structures are commonly referred to as electron dot structures or Lewis structures.
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• This chemistry video tutorial provides a basic introduction into drawing lewis dot structures but most importantly, it provides an explanation on how to calc.
• Follow these simple steps to correctly draw a Lewis dot structure: Add up the total number of valence electrons found in the entire compound. Don’t forget to include any positive or negative charges when determining this. Draw the simple structure (skeleton structure) of the compound by connecting everything with single bonds only.

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Lewis Symbols of Monoatomic Elements

In almost all cases, chemical bonds are formed by interactions of valence electrons in atoms. To facilitate our understanding of how valence electrons interact, a simple way of representing those valence electrons would be useful.

A Lewis electron dot diagram (or electron dot diagram or a Lewis diagram or a Lewis structure) is a representation of the valence electrons of an atom that uses dots around the symbol of the element. The number of dots equals the number of valence electrons in the atom. These dots are arranged to the right and left and above and below the symbol, with no more than two dots on a side. (It does not matter what order the positions are used.)

For example, the Lewis electron dot diagram for calcium is simply

Figure 1 shows the Lewis symbols for the elements of the third period of the periodic table.

Figure 1. Lewis symbols illustrating the number of valence electrons for each element in the third period of the periodic table.

Lewis symbols can also be used to illustrate the formation of cations from atoms, as shown here for sodium and calcium:Likewise, they can be used to show the formation of anions from atoms, as shown below for chlorine and sulfur:Figure 2 demonstrates the use of Lewis symbols to show the transfer of electrons during the formation of ionic compounds.

Figure 2. Cations are formed when atoms lose electrons, represented by fewer Lewis dots, whereas anions are formed by atoms gaining electrons. The total number of electrons does not change.

Example 1: Writing Lewis DoT SYmbols of Elements

What is the Lewis electron dot diagram for each element?

1. aluminum
2. selenium

Show Answer

1. The valence electron configuration for aluminum is 3s²3p¹. So it would have three dots around the symbol for aluminum, two of them paired to represent the 3s electrons (or three single dots around the atom):

2. The valence electron configuration for selenium is 4s²4p⁴. In the highest-numbered shell, the n = 4 shell, there are six electrons. Its electron dot diagram is as follows:

Check Your Learning

What is the Lewis electron dot diagram for each element?

1. phosphorus
2. argon

Example 2: Writing Lewis DoT SYmbols of Ions

What is the Lewis electron dot diagram for each ion?

1. Ca²⁺
2. O²⁻

Show Answer

1. Having lost its two original valence electrons, the Lewis electron dot diagram is just Ca²⁺.

   Ca²⁺

2. The O²⁻ ion has gained two electrons in its valence shell, so its Lewis electron dot diagram is as follows:

Check Your Learning

The valence electron configuration of thallium, whose symbol is Tl, is 6s²5d¹⁰6p¹. What is the Lewis electron dot diagram for the Tl⁺ ion?

Key Takeaways

• Lewis electron dot diagrams use dots to represent valence electrons around an atomic symbol.
• Lewis electron dot diagrams for ions have fewer (for cations) or more (for anions) dots than the corresponding atom.

Exercises

1. Explain why the first two dots in a Lewis electron dot diagram are drawn on the same side of the atomic symbol.

2. Is it necessary for the first dot around an atomic symbol to go on a particular side of the atomic symbol?

3. What column of the periodic table has Lewis electron dot diagrams with two electrons?

4. What column of the periodic table has Lewis electron dot diagrams that have six electrons in them?

5. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each element.

a) strontium

b) silicon

6. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each element.

a) krypton

b) sulfur

7. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each element.

a) titanium

b) phosphorus

8. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each element.

a) bromine

b) gallium

9. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each ion.

a) Mg²⁺

b) S²⁻

10. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each ion.

a) In⁺

b) Br⁻

11. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each ion.

a) Fe²⁺

Chemistry Lewis Structure

b) N³⁻

12. Draw the Lewis electron dot diagram for each ion.

a) H⁺

b) H⁻

Show Select Answer

1. The first two electrons in a valence shell are s electrons, which are paired.

3. The second column of the periodic table

5.

a)

b)

7.

a)

b)

Lewis Dot Chemistry

9.

a) Mg²⁺

b)

Lewis Dot Structure Chemistry

11.

Lewis Dot Structures

a) Fe²⁺

Chemistry Lewis Dot Structure Calculator Online

b)