3.3: Lewis Structures

Unit Objectives

• Explain the formation of cations, anions, and ionic compounds
• Predict the charge of common metallic and nonmetallic elements, and write their electron configurations
• Describe the formation of covalent bonds
• Define electronegativity and assess the polarity of covalent bonds
• Write Lewis symbols for neutral atoms and ions
• Draw Lewis structures depicting the bonding in simple molecules
• Compute formal charges for atoms in any Lewis structure
• Use formal charges to identify the most reasonable Lewis structure for a given molecule
• Identify the oxidation states of atoms in Lewis structures