Introduction

Writing out Lewis structures can be at times, tricky and somewhat difficult. A compound can have multiple Lewis Structures that contribute to the shape of the overall compound, so one Lewis structure of a compound may not necessarily be exactly what the compound looks like. But before we begin, there are a few things to know. An electron is represnted as a dot. A bond, which is made up of 2 shared electrons, is represented by two dots between the bonded atoms or a line (Kekulé structures lines).Double bonds and triple bonds are represented as two and three lines/(pairs of electrons), respectively. Lone pairs on the outer rims of an atom are represented as two dots. The electrons represented in a lewis stucture are the outer-shell electrons, which are called valence electrons. This is because they are the ones involved in chemical reactions. The examples listed below may or may not be consistent for each step for the sake of showing multiple examples, since all steps apply to every compound. Now we are ready to begin.

Step 1: Draw out the molecular backbone of the compound. This is probably the most difficult step in drawing Lewis structures because we must pick one or multiple atoms to be the central connector to terminal (outside) atoms. Usually, the central atom is already known as in the case with many organic compounds containing Carbon as the central atom. But at the basics, the atom with the lowest electronegativity is the central atom. Other factors come into play such as the octet rule, which will be discussed in this section. One can find the electronegativity values of atoms by looking at a periodic table of elements that contains the electronegativity values for each element. Electronegativity typically increases from left to right and decreases from top to bottom in a periodic table.

For example,                Correct                                 Correct                                                      Wrong

                        CCl₄ (A refrigerant)                    C₂H₆ (Ethane)                 CHClCH (Bad layout, hydrogen and chlorine are central atoms)

-Note: Electronegavity values: C = 2.55; Cl = 3.16; H = 2.20

Step 2: Add up the valence electrons for each atom in the molecule.

For example,

H₂O      2 H:  2 x 1 electron    = 2 electrons

                   1 O:  1 x 6 electrons   = 6 electrons

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Total:                                              8 electrons

Step 3: (Octet Rule) All covalent bonds are shown by two shared electrons. Place a pair of electrons between two elements that are connected to each other with a single bond. Next, give as many atoms as possible 8 electrons, except for Hydrogen, which has a duet (2-shared electrons). Do this by placing lone electron pairs on the outer atoms until each outer atom fulfills the octet. Place any remaining lone electron pairs on the central atom. Usually, electronegative atoms will have lone pairs on them. The number of electrons placed on the molecule should correspond to the total number of valence electrons of the atoms in the molecule.  

For example,

      Hydrochloric Acid

-Note: Hydrogen has 2 electrons, meeting its duet and Chlorine has 8 electrons, meeting its octet. All electrons are placed in correct spots.

Many times, satisfying the octet rule and total number of valence electrons in the molecule with only single bonds is not the case, meaning  that there could be less valence electrons than needed to satisfy all octets with only single bond connections. In these situations, double or triple bonds may be needed to obtain octets. Rectify these situations by moving a lone pair of electrons from one atom to the bond between those two atoms. By doing this, one atom that is deficient of an electron pair of its octet can be filled, while having no effect on the other atom’s octet. Each compound is a case-by-case scenario and thus must be thought out carefully to solve the octet/total # of valence electron problems. 

For example,

          Ethene                             Ethyne

*****A simple way to find the need for double or triple bonds is by counting the number of electrons to fill all octets, then finding the difference with the total number of valence electrons available in that compound. The difference will show exactly how much electrons that need to be shared to meet the octet (duet for hydrogen) for all atoms.*****

-Note: Ethene has 2 C + 4 H amounting to 12 available electrons. If every bond was single electron paired, there would be 10 electrons. The hydrogen would have its duet met but both Carbons will not have their octet met. Placing the extra pair of electrons in between the two carbons, making a double bond amends the problem. Ethyne has 2 C + 2 H amounting to 10 available electrons. Placing the two extra pair of electrons between both carbons, making a triple bond fixes the problem with the octet rule and allows for all available electrons to be placed on the compound.

Step 4: Assign Formal Charges (FC) to each atom in the molecule.The formal charge of an atom is pretty much the difference between the number of valence electrons that a neutral atom would have and the number of electrons that is contained on the atom of the Lewis structure. If a charge on an atom is zero, you don't need to put any symbols on that atom. The total of the formal charges on a neutral molecule should be equal to zero. An atom is charged if the total charge of the atom is different from the valence electrons of the free, non-bonded atom.

To determine Formal Charge

FC = # of valence electrons - # of lone pair electrons - ½(number of bonding electrons)

Charge is distributed over the surroundings and thus called, a formal charge.

      Hydroxide Anion                                  Methyl Cation

Exceptions

There are some exceptions to the Lewis structure rules that one always needs to keep in mind. Regardless, these exceptions are still correct Lewis structures.

Exception 1: Some compounds have odd # of electrons.

For example,

                  Ethyl Radical

Exception 2: Some compounds don't have enough valence electrons for an octet. The octet rule only works for elements in the second row given enough valence electrons and usually, some of these compounds are very reactive.

For example,

               Lithium Hydride

-Note: Lithium and hydrogen each have 1 electron to share. Hydrogen meets its duet, but Lithium is still 6 electrons deficient from meeting octet.

Exception 3: After the second row of table of elements, there can be more than eight valence electrons possible, which is known as valence shell expansion. These elements, such as Sulfur, are poly-valent and can form more stable compounds, as found in quantum mechanics, but we won't go into that topic here.

For example,
        

                Sulfuric Acid

-Note: Sulfur atom has 12 electrons on it.

Practice Example: O3

Step 1: Build the backbone of ozone.

Step 2: Total up the valence electrons.

O3      3 O:  3 x 6 electrons    =  18 electrons

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Total:                                        18 electrons

Step 3: Fill up each oxygen atom’s octet.

There are 20 electrons in the drawing but only 18 available electrons.

20 - 18 electrons = 2 electrons that need to be shared.

So, drag one pair of electrons from one of the exterior oxygens and make a double bond with the central oxygen to the respective side, while maintaining the octet rule.

Step 4: Assign formal charges to each oxygen atom.

Oxygen 1: 6 – 4 – ½(4) = 0

Oxygen 2: 6 – 2 – ½(6) = +1

Oxygen 3: 6 – 6 – ½(2) = -1

We found a Lewis structure for O₃. But wait, there are other valid Lewis structures, just by moving electrons around!

For example,

Practice Problems

Draw out a correct Lewis Structure for the following compounds.

1. HCN

2. LiF

3. Li₂O

4. SO₃^2-

5. H₃PO₄

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Answers:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Another simple and general procedure to draw Lewis structures has been proposed by A.B.P. Lever (see reference 5). Before beginning this procedure it is necessary to know the basic geometry of the molecule, i.e. whether it is cyclic or noncyclic, and which atoms are connected to which. Several worked examples for the determination of the Lewis structures of simple and more complicated species using the above described method can be found in the original paper and in Chemistry Net.

References

1. Schore, Neil E. and Vollhardt, K. Peter C. Organic Chemistry: Structure and Function. 5th Edition. New York: Bleyer, Brennan. 2007. (14-19)
2. Klein, David R. Organic Chemistry as a Second Language. New York: Wiley, 2007.
3. Miburo, Barnabe B. "Simplified Lewis Structure Drawing for Nonscience Majors." Journal of Chemical Education 75 (1998): 317-19.
4. Reed, J.L. The Lewis Structure: An Expanded Perspective. Journal of Chemical Education 71, (1994): 98-100.
5. Lever, A.B.P. "Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule" Journal of Chemical Education 49, (1972): 819 - 821

Outside Links

• "Lewis structure." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Ed. Wikipedia. 17 Feb. 2009. 01 Mar. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_structure>.
• Purser, Gordon H. " Lewis Structures Are Models for Predicting Molecular Structure, Not Electronic Structure." J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 1013.
• Straub, Darel K. "Lewis Structures of Boron Compounds Involving Multiple Bonding." J. Chem. Educ. 1995, 72, 494.
• Chemistry Net, "Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule"

Contributors

• Daniel S. Kim

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