BackChemical Bonding and Lewis Structures Overview
Study Guide - Smart Notes
Tailored notes based on your materials, expanded with key definitions, examples, and context.
Lewis Dot Symbols: Represent valence electrons of atoms/ions. Main group elements: valence electrons = group number; transition metals: variable valence electrons.
Drawing Lewis Dot Symbols: Place one valence electron on each side of the element symbol, then pair up as needed. For ions, add or remove electrons accordingly.
Ionic Bonding: Involves transfer of electrons from metals (which lose electrons) to nonmetals (which gain electrons), forming cations and anions. Ionic bond formation is exothermic and lowers energy.
Covalent Bonding: Involves sharing of valence electrons between nonmetals. Each covalent bond represents a shared pair of electrons.
Metallic Bonding: Involves free-flowing valence electrons among a lattice of metal ions, giving rise to properties like conductivity, malleability, and luster.
Electronegativity (EN): Measures an atom's ability to attract electrons. EN increases across a period (left to right) and up a group. ΔEN = |ENB - ENA|
Dipole Moment: Occurs when there is a significant difference in EN between bonded atoms, resulting in bond polarity. Dipole arrow points toward the more electronegative atom.
Chemical Bond Classifications:
Nonpolar Covalent: ΔEN < 0.4
Polar Covalent: 0.4 ≤ ΔEN < 1.7
Ionic: ΔEN ≥ 1.7
Octet Rule: Main group elements tend to achieve 8 valence electrons (octet) through bonding. Some elements can have incomplete (8) octets.
Formal Charge: Used to determine the most stable Lewis structure. Formal Charge = Valence Electrons - (Nonbonding Electrons + rac{Bonding Electrons}{2})
Drawing Lewis Structures:
Count total valence electrons.
Place least electronegative atom in the center (except H).
Connect atoms with single bonds, complete octets, add multiple bonds if needed.
Assign formal charges to check stability.
Lone Pairs: Nonbonding pairs of electrons on an atom, not involved in bonding.
Sigma (σ) and Pi (π) Bonds:
Sigma: First bond between two atoms, strongest type.
Pi: Additional bonds in double/triple bonds, weaker than sigma.
Bond Strength and Length: Greater bond strength = shorter bond length. Triple bonds are stronger and shorter than double or single bonds.
Lewis Structures for Ions and Ionic Compounds: For polyatomic ions, draw the structure and add/subtract electrons for the charge. For ionic compounds, show both ions and their charges.
Radicals: Molecules or ions with an unpaired electron. Place the unpaired electron on the atom with the lowest formal charge.