Steps for Lewis Structures
Practice!
Shapes? What is this, geometry?
Miscellaneous Chemistry for Fun
100

The first step taken when approaching a Lewis Structure problem

What is Calculating the total number of valence electrons of the compound.

100

The Lewis Structure for water (H2O)

100

How do you know the number of bonding domains?

How do you know the number of non-bonding domains (or lone pairs)?

Bonding domains - you count the number of bonds for the central atom.

Non-bonding domains/lone pairs - you count the number of lone pairs (or electrons outside of bonds in pairs) for the central atom.

100

The equation for formal charge

What is Formal charge = # valence shell electrons - (1/2) bonding electrons - # of lone pair electrons

200

The second step taken when approaching a Lewis Structure problem

What is drawing the basic structure and bonds between the atoms.

200

The Lewis Structure for formaldehyde (CH2O) 

200

The electron domain geometry and molecular geometry for XeF4

What is Octahedral (electron domain geometry) and Square Planar (molecular geometry)

200

The definition of resonance structure 

What is two or more Lewis structures with the same arrangement of atoms can be written for a molecule or ion

300

The third step taken when approaching a Lewis Structure problem

What is adding remaining electrons to atoms (that are not the central atom).

300

The Lewis Structure for Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCCH)

300

The electron domain geometry and molecular geometry for ClF3

What is trigonal bipyramidal (electron domain geometry) and T-shaped (molecular geometry)

300

The definition of nonpolar covalent bonds

What is the equal sharing of electrons between nonmetals 

400

The fourth step taken when approaching a Lewis Structure problem 

What is looking at the octet rule and making sure all atoms follow the rule (unless there is an exception!)

400
The Lewis Structure for XeF6

400

The electron domain geometry and the molecular geometry for TeCl42−

What is octahedral (electron-pair geometry) and square planar (molecular structure)

400

The definition of ionic bonds

What is the complete transfer of electrons (between metals and nonmetals)

500

The final step taken when approaching a Lewis Structure problem

What is calculating the formal charge and ensuring all charges are minimized (or optimized).

500

The Lewis Structure for ICl4-

500

The electron domain geometry and molecular structure for PH2−

What is tetrahedral (electron domain geometry) and bent (molecular geometry)

500

The definition of polar covalent bonds 

What is the unequal sharing of electrons between two nonmetals