Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

11. Bonding & Molecular Structure

Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds

General Chemistry

11. Bonding & Molecular Structure

Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with General Chemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the correct Lewis dot structure for the neutral compound Cl2O2, given that the arrangement of atoms is Cl–O–O–Cl?

Each Cl atom is bonded to an O atom, but the O atoms are not bonded to each other; each O atom has three lone pairs.

Each Cl atom is bonded to an O atom, the two O atoms are bonded to each other, and each O atom has two lone pairs; each Cl atom has three lone pairs.

Each Cl atom is bonded directly to the other Cl atom, and each O atom is bonded to both Cl atoms; each O atom has three lone pairs.

Each Cl atom is bonded to both O atoms, forming a ring structure; each O atom has two lone pairs.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the molecular formula and the given atomic arrangement. The compound is Cl2O2, and the atoms are arranged as Cl–O–O–Cl, meaning each chlorine atom is bonded to an oxygen atom, and the two oxygen atoms are bonded to each other.

Step 2: Determine the total number of valence electrons available. Chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons, and oxygen (O) has 6 valence electrons. Calculate the total valence electrons for Cl2O2 by summing 2 × 7 (for Cl) and 2 × 6 (for O).

Step 3: Draw the skeletal structure based on the given arrangement: Cl bonded to O, O bonded to O, and O bonded to Cl. Place single bonds between these atoms initially, remembering that each bond represents 2 electrons.

Step 4: Distribute the remaining valence electrons as lone pairs to satisfy the octet rule for each atom. Start by completing the octets of the more electronegative atoms (oxygen), then assign lone pairs to chlorine atoms. Remember that each oxygen atom should have two lone pairs if bonded to two atoms, and chlorine atoms typically have three lone pairs when bonded to one atom.

Step 5: Verify the Lewis structure by counting all electrons (bonding and lone pairs) to ensure the total matches the number of valence electrons calculated in Step 2, and confirm that each atom (except hydrogen, which is not present here) has a complete octet.