Practice Sheet

Electron Dot (Lewis) Structures

A Lewis or Electron Dot Structure is a convenient representation of the valence electrons in an atom.
An electron dot structure for an atom is simply the symbol for the element, surrounded by a number of dots
equal to the number of valence electrons.
Avoid a common mistake: the dots represent valence electrons only, so make sure you use only the number
of dots corresponding to the number of valence electrons.
Examples:

.
.. . .. . . .. .. . . ..

.. ..
Na
. Ca Al C P Kr
. .

• Draw lewis dot structures for an atom of each of following elements:

1. K 3. Ar

2. Si 4. As

Covalent Bonds

An atom can also achieve a noble gas configuration by sharing electrons with other atoms. When two non-
metals combine, they typically share electrons in covalent bonds and form what are know as covalent compounds.
We can draw Lewis Electron Dot Diagrams for covalent molecules to determine what type of bonds the
molecules form.
For example, consider two hydrogen atoms. Each one has one valence electron. However, both hydrogens
would like to have two electrons, to obtain the same configuration as [He]. To do this, each H atom shares

.. H
an electron with the other, forming a covalent bond. In H2 , each H atom has 2 electrons.
H . + .H H H H H2
a hydrogen
molecule
H’s share e−’s (diatomic = 2 atoms)
forming a covalent
each H has 1 e− bond
shared pairs can
and wants 1 more be represented as
lines between atoms

Here’s another example, this time for chlorine. A Cl atom has 7 valence electrons, so it needs 1 more to
achieve an octet (8 electrons).

. . Cl
.. ..

.. ..

..
..

..
..

..
Cl +
.. .. .. ..
Cl Cl
.. Cl Cl
.. Cl2
..
..

..
..

a chlorine
molecule
each Cl shares 1 e−’s
forming a covalent
each Cl has 7 e− bond consisting of
2 electrons the shared electron pair
and wants 1 more is represented as a line

Each chlorine now has 8 electrons, because you can count the shared ones:
 Lewis Dot Structures Practice Sheet, page 2

this Cl now has an

this Cl atom also has an octet

..
..
octet of 8 electrons .. .. ..
Cl Cl

..
..
Sometimes you need to share more than one pair of electrons to achieve an octet:

. .O ..
.. .

.. .
.. O +
.. .... ..
O O
.. O O
.. O2

..
..

..
..
an oxygen
molecule
each O shares 2e−’s
forming a double
each O has 6 e− covalent bond
the four shared electrons
and wants 2 more
are represented as two lines between the atoms

We can check to see that each oxygen has the appropriate number of electrons:

each oxygen atom total # valence

.. .... ..
O O now has an octet electrons = 12
(note the 12 dots)
..
..

For the following problems, calculate the total number of valence electrons in each of the following molecules.
Then, draw lewis dot structures for each:

• Br2 # valence e−

• HCl # valence e−

• HBr # valence e−

• N2 # valence e−

• NO # valence e−
This one is tricky, there is no way to achieve an octet. So, get each atom as close to an octet as possible
without going over.

.
Lewis Dot Structures Practice Sheet, page 3

Steps for Drawing Lewis Dot Structures for Larger Molecules

1. First, determine the central atom:

(a) Hydrogens (H) and halogens (F,Cl,Br,I) are almost always outer atoms. They only want to form
one bond to get to a noble gas configuration.
(b) If the choice is still ambiguous, the atom further to the right on the periodic table is generally an
outer atom, the one further to the left is often the central atom.
For example: COH2
The H’s are outer atoms, leaving C and O as candidates.
C is further to the left than O, so C is the central atom.
2. Arrange the outer atoms around the central atom:

O carbon is the central atom

H C H
3. Count up the valence electrons: C (4) + O (6) + 2H (2x1) = 12 electrons
4. Draw a bond between each outer atom and the central atom. Count the electrons you have used in
these bonds and subtract them from your total valence electrons.

6 electrons are use in making these bonds

O
.. so 12 − 6 = 6 electrons remain

H
.. ..
C H

5. Use the remaining electrons to fill octets around the outer atoms. Put any remaining ones on the
central atom.

.. ..
..

the H’s can’t accept any more electrons

O
. so the remaining six are place around the oxygen

H
.. . ..
C H

6. If all the atoms don’t have an octet, move a non-bonding electron pair from 1 atom into a sharing
position.

.. .. .. ..
..

..

O
. O . move one of the pairs on oxygen

H
.. . ..
C H H
.. . ..
C H
in to a sharing position with carbon

the H’s have 2 electrons

O has an octet, but C does not
.
..

..

.....
O
or
.. O
H
.. ..
C H H C H
both C and O have octets
and H has 2 electrons

Try drawing lewis dot structures for these molecules:

Lewis Dot Structures Practice Sheet, page 4

• SiH4 # valence e−

• CCl4 # valence e−

• PCl3 # valence e−

• NCl3 # valence e−

• CS2 # valence e−

• CH2 Cl2 # valence e−