<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Represent the molecule HCN (hydrogen cyanide) using Lewis notation

  1. The electron configuration of hydrogen is 1 s 1 , the electron configuration of nitrogen is 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 3 and for carbon is 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 2 . This means that hydrogen has one valence electron which is unpaired, carbon has four valence electrons, all of which are unpaired, and nitrogen has five valence electrons, three of which are unpaired.

  2. The HCN molecule is represented below. Notice the three electron pairs between the nitrogen and carbon atom. Because these three covalent bonds are between the same two atoms, this is a triple bond.

Represent the molecule H 2 S (hydrogen sulphide) using Lewis notation

  1. Hydrogen has an electron configuration of 1 s 1 and sulphur has an electron configuration of 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p 6 3 s 2 3 p 4 . Each hydrogen atom has one valence electron which is unpaired, and sulphur has six valence electrons. Although sulphur has a variable valency, we know that the sulphur will be able to form 2 bonds with the hydrogen atoms. In this case, the valency of sulphur must be two.

  2. The H 2 S molecule is represented below.

Another way of representing molecules is using Couper notation . In this case, only the electrons that are involved in the bond between the atoms are shown. A line is used for each covalent bond. Using Couper notation, a molecule of water and a molecule of HCN would be represented as shown in figures [link] and [link] below.

A water molecule represented using Couper notation
A molecule of HCN represented using Couper notation

Atomic bonding and lewis notation

  1. Represent each of the following atoms using Lewis notation:
    1. beryllium
    2. calcium
    3. lithium
  2. Represent each of the following molecules using Lewis notation:
    1. bromine gas ( Br 2 )
    2. carbon dioxide ( CO 2 )
  3. Which of the two molecules listed above contains a double bond?
  4. Two chemical reactions are described below.
    • nitrogen and hydrogen react to form NH 3
    • carbon and hydrogen bond to form a molecule of CH 4
    For each reaction, give:
    1. the valency of each of the atoms involved in the reaction
    2. the Lewis structure of the product that is formed
    3. the chemical formula of the product
    4. the name of the product
  5. A chemical compound has the following Lewis notation:
    1. How many valence electrons does element Y have?
    2. What is the valency of element Y ?
    3. What is the valency of element X ?
    4. How many covalent bonds are in the molecule?
    5. Suggest a name for the elements X and Y .

Ionic bonding

The nature of the ionic bond

You will remember that when atoms bond, electrons are either shared or they are transferred between the atoms that are bonding. In covalent bonding, electrons are shared between the atoms. There is another type of bonding, where electrons are transferred from one atom to another. This is called ionic bonding .

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Chemistry grade 10 [caps]. OpenStax CNX. Jun 13, 2011 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11303/1.4
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Chemistry grade 10 [caps]' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask