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

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the correct Lewis electron dot structure for neutral magnesium chloride (MgCl_2)?

Mg^{2+} [ :Cl: ] [ :Cl: ]

Mg [ :Cl: ] [ :Cl: ]

Mg^{2+} [ :Cl: ]^{-} [ :Cl: ]^{-}

Mg [ :Cl: ]^{-} [ :Cl: ]^{-}

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the nature of bonding in magnesium chloride (MgCl_2). Magnesium is a metal and chlorine is a nonmetal, so MgCl_2 is an ionic compound formed by the transfer of electrons from magnesium to chlorine atoms.

Step 2: Determine the electron configuration changes. Magnesium (Mg) starts with 2 valence electrons and tends to lose both to achieve a stable noble gas configuration, becoming Mg^{2+}. Each chlorine atom (Cl) needs one electron to complete its octet, so each Cl gains one electron, becoming Cl^{-}.

Step 3: Draw the Lewis structure for the ions. Represent Mg as Mg^{2+} with no dots around it because it has lost its valence electrons. Each Cl^{-} should be shown with 8 dots (4 pairs) around the symbol to represent the full octet, and a negative charge to indicate the extra electron.

Step 4: Combine the ions to form the neutral compound. Since Mg^{2+} has a +2 charge and each Cl^{-} has a -1 charge, two Cl^{-} ions balance the charge of one Mg^{2+} ion, resulting in a neutral MgCl_2 compound.

Step 5: Verify the overall charge and octet completion. Ensure that the Mg ion has no valence electrons (due to loss) and each Cl ion has a complete octet with a negative charge, confirming the correct Lewis electron dot structure is Mg^{2+} [ :Cl: ]^{-} [ :Cl: ]^{-}.