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 species has a valid Lewis dot structure as a neutral compound?

NO3-

NH4+

CO2

O2-

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand that a valid Lewis dot structure for a neutral compound must have no overall charge, meaning the total number of valence electrons should match the sum of electrons contributed by all atoms without any extra or missing electrons.

Step 2: Analyze each species given: NO3⁻ (nitrate ion), NH4⁺ (ammonium ion), CO2 (carbon dioxide), and O2⁻ (superoxide ion). Note that NO3⁻ and NH4⁺ are ions with charges, so they are not neutral compounds.

Step 3: For CO2, count the total valence electrons: Carbon has 4 valence electrons, and each oxygen has 6 valence electrons, so total electrons = 4 + 2×6 = 16 electrons. This matches the electrons needed to form a stable neutral molecule with double bonds between carbon and oxygen atoms.

Step 4: For O2⁻, it is an ion with a negative charge, so it is not neutral. Its Lewis structure includes an extra electron compared to neutral O2, making it an ion rather than a neutral compound.

Step 5: Conclude that among the options, CO2 is the only species that can have a valid Lewis dot structure as a neutral compound because it has no charge and the correct number of valence electrons to form stable bonds.