Systematic Procedure for Drawing Lewis Structures Based on Electron Pairing Priority and the Explicit Use of Donor Bonds: An Alternative to the Normal Procedure Which Can Be Pen and Paper Based or Automated on a PC in User Interactive 3D
- Patrick McArdle*
Patrick McArdle*E-mail: [email protected]School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland, Galway H91 TK33, IrelandMore by Patrick McArdle
Abstract
This article contrasts the normal method for drawing Lewis structures with a two-step systematic approach. The latter approach uses a known molecular connectivity and a knowledge of the number of valence electrons that each atom possesses to visualize bonds that are formed by pairing electrons, one from each atom. This process is repeated until at least one of the non-hydrogen atoms in each bond has an octet. Donor bonds are added when atoms with six and eight electrons are adjacent. In forming donor bonds charges are added to the atoms involved to maintain electron accounting and there is no need to use a formula to calculate formal charges. The general importance of adhering to the octet rule for p-block compounds is stressed and the difference between covalent and donor bonds and the use of the recent IUPAC definition of oxidation state which is based on Lewis structures is included in the discussion. When students are able to draw Lewis structures they can be given access to PC software, available on an academic free basis, which will draw rotatable Lewis structures in 3D for p-block compounds. The software allows the user to move electron pairs in a bow and arrow fashion within the structures and atoms are highlighted when the octet is exceeded.
Cited By
This article is cited by 10 publications.
- Karine Molvinger. Discontinuity in the Teaching of Lewis Representation between Secondary and Higher Education. Journal of Chemical Education 2024, 101 (3) , 850-857. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.2c01031
- Gerard Parkin. A Convenient Approach for the Construction of Lewis Structures by Focusing on the Valence Requirements of Outer Atoms. Journal of Chemical Education 2023, 100 (12) , 4644-4652. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00702
- Owen J. Curnow, Jason K. Pearson. Quantitative Assessment on the Effectiveness of a Formal Charge Method for Constructing Lewis (Electron Dot) Structures. Journal of Chemical Education 2023, 100 (8) , 3093-3097. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00189
- Ciana L. Paye, Cathi L. Dunnagan, David A. Tredwell, Maria T. Gallardo-Williams. Connecting the Dots: Lewis Structure Builder Web App as a Review Tool for Organic Chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education 2021, 98 (8) , 2704-2708. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00213
- Owen J. Curnow. Facile Method for Constructing Lewis (Electron Dot) Structures. Journal of Chemical Education 2021, 98 (4) , 1454-1457. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00952
- Benjamin A. Jackson, Jordan Harshman, Evangelos Miliordos. Addressing the Hypervalent Model: A Straightforward Explanation of Traditionally Hypervalent Molecules. Journal of Chemical Education 2020, 97 (10) , 3638-3646. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00368
- Itzel Guerrero-Ríos, Iván Darío Rojas-Montoya, Antonio Reina Tapia. Introducción a la interpretación de Ciclos Catalíticos: una metodología sencilla para estudiantes universitarios de segundo año. Educación Química 2024, 35 (2) , 33-50. https://doi.org/10.22201/fq.18708404e.2024.2.86707
- David Keller, Jolanda Hermanns. How do students apply the octet rule and how do they justify this application?. Chemistry Teacher International 2023, 5 (1) , 61-74. https://doi.org/10.1515/cti-2022-0023
- Peter W. R. Corfield, Joshua Schrier. Structure and charge analysis of a cyclic aluminium hydride: cyclo -1,5-bis-μ-dimethylamino-3,7-di-μ-hydrido-2,4,6,8-tetrakis(dimethylaluminium). Acta Crystallographica Section C Structural Chemistry 2023, 79 (1) , 12-17. https://doi.org/10.1107/S2053229622011391
- Bojidarka Ivanova. Electrospray Ionization Stochastic Dynamic Mass Spectrometric 3D Analysis of Positional Isomers and Enantiomers With Respect to Collision Energy. SSRN Electronic Journal 2023, 99 https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4491939