Honors Chemistry

Lesson 18: Covalent Bonding

Topic A: Lewis Structures (6.2, pgs.184-189)

Terms:
o Lewis structure
o structural formula
o single bond
o multiple bond
o resonance

Details:

Lewis Structures
The Lewis Structure of a molecule shows how the valence electrons are arranged among the atoms
in the molecule.

Each fluorine atom in this molecule is surrounded by eight electrons, two of which are shared with
the other atom. This is the bonding pair of electrons. Each fluorine also has three pairs of
electrons not involved in the bonding. These are lone pairs.
Steps for Writing Lewis Structures
1.

The valence electrons of all atoms are added together.

2. If the substance is a polyatomic ion, we must take into account the electrons used to form
the ion. For anions, the charge represents additional electrons that must be added to the
total of the valence electrons. For cations, the charge represents missing electrons that
must be subtracted from the valence electrons.
3. Write the skeletal structure for the molecules. A pair of electrons is placed between each
two atoms in the skeletal structure to represent a covalent bond. These electrons are
called bonding pairs.

In general, the chemical formula is written as the elements are connected in the
molecule.
When multiple atoms are connected to the same atom, the central atom is the least
electronegative atom or the atom that appears only once in the formula.

4. The remaining electrons are used to complete the octets of all outer atoms in the skeleton.
These electrons are nonbonding pairs of electrons (lone pairs).

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5. If any electrons are left over they are added in pairs to the central atom. These electrons
are also nonbonding pairs (lone pairs).
6. When all electrons have been placed, the outer electrons will all have octets. The central
atom may have an octet, or it may have more or fewer than eight electrons.
A. If the central atom has an octet, the structure is complete.
B. If the central atom does not have a complete octet, double must be constructed to
obtain an octet. This is done by taking a nonbonding pair of electrons from an outer
atom and placing them as bonding pairs to make a double bond.
Example: Draw the Lewis structure for PCl3.
Step 1: Sum the valence electrons for PCl3 as shown:
5 + 21 = 26 valence electrons
Step 2: This is not a polyatomic ion so the valence electron total remains the same.
Step 3: Write the skeletal structure and connect the atoms.
Phosphorus is the least electronegative atom and it appears only once so it is the central atom.

Step 4: Complete the octet of each outer atom.

Step 5: Add any additional electrons to the central atom.

In total 24 valence electrons have been assigned. Therefore, 2 valence electrons are left to be
assigned to the phosphorus.

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Step 6: All atoms have a complete octet so the structure is complete.

Example: Draw the Lewis Structure for CO2.

Step 1: Sum the valence electrons for CO2 as shown:
4 + 6 + 6 = 16 valence electrons
Step 2: This is not a polyatomic ion so the valence electron total remains the same.
Step 3: Write the skeletal structure and connect the atoms.
Carbon is the least electronegative atom and it appears only once so it is the central atom.

Step 4: Complete the octet of each outer atom.

Step 5: Add any additional electrons to the central atom.

In total 16 valence electrons have been assigned. Therefore, no valence electrons are left to be
assigned to the carbon.
Step 6: The central atom does not have a complete octet, multiple bonds must be constructed to
obtain an octet. This is done by taking a nonbonding pair of electrons from an outer atom and
placing them as bonding pairs to make a double bond

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Carbon dioxide has two double bonds.

Example: Draw the Lewis structure for NH4+.
Step 1: Sum the valence electrons for NH4+ as shown:
5 + 5 = 9 valence electrons
Step 2: This is a polyatomic ion with a 1+ charge. Therefore, there is one less electron. The total
number of valence electrons is equal to 8.
Step 3: Write the skeletal structure and connect the atoms.
Nitrogen appears only once so it is the central atom.

Step 4: Complete the octet of each outer atom.

Each hydrogen is stable. Hydrogen is an exception to the octet rule in that it is stable with two
electrons.
Step 5: Add any additional electrons to the central atom.
In total 8 valence electrons have been assigned. Therefore, no valence electrons are left to be
assigned to the nitrogen.

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Step 6: All atoms have a complete octet so the structure is complete.

In Class Practice: Construct the Lewis Structures for each of the following compounds.
(A) CS2

(B) PH3

(C) SiF4

(D) H2S

In Class Practice: Construct the Lewis Structures for each of the following compounds.
(A) SO32-

(B) ClO4-

(C) CO32-

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Resonance Structures

Resonance is a condition that occurs when more than one valid Lewis structure can be written for a
molecule or ion.
An example is sulfur trioxide, O3.
1. Count the valence electrons. O = 6 so # of valence electrons = (6 x 3) = 18.
2. Drawing the bond connectivities:

3. Complete the octets of the atoms bonded to the central atom:

4. Place any leftover electrons (18-16 = 2) on the central atom:

5. Does the central atom have an octet? No, it has 6 electrons. A multiple bond must be
added to achieve the an octet for the central atom. In creating the multiple bond, there
are actually to configurations that are equally possible.

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These Lewis structures are equivalent except for the placement of the electrons (i.e. the location
of the double bond). Equivalent Lewis structures are called resonance structures, or resonance
forms.
The bond lengths between the central oxygen and the other two oxygens are identical. This
indicates that the ozone molecule is described by an average of the two Lewis structures (i.e. the
resonance forms). Therefore, the bond length in O3 is the average of a single bond and double
bond.

The important points to remember about resonance forms are as follows:

The molecule is not rapidly oscillating between different discrete forms.

There is only one form of the ozone molecule, and the bond lengths between the oxygen are
intermediate between characteristic single and double bond lengths between a pair of
oxygen.

We draw two Lewis structures (in this case) because a single structure is insufficient to
describe the real structure.

Common Resonance Molecules:

The molecule O3 and the polyatomic ions NO3-, NO2-, SO32-, and CO32- commonly form resonance
structures.

In Class Problem: Draw the Lewis resonance structures for NO3-.

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In Class Problem: Draw the Lewis resonance structures for NO2.

H. Chem. Lesson 18