Multiple Choice
Which of the following is typically shown in a Lewis dot structure for a neutral compound?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
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Which of the following is the correct Lewis dot structure for hydrogen fluoride (HF)?
A
H - F with three lone pairs on F
B
H = F with two lone pairs on F
C
H - F with no lone pairs on F
D
H : F with two lone pairs on F
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the total number of valence electrons for each atom in hydrogen fluoride (HF). Hydrogen (H) has 1 valence electron, and fluorine (F) has 7 valence electrons.
Determine how these electrons are shared or arranged. Hydrogen needs 1 electron to complete its duet, and fluorine needs 1 electron to complete its octet.
Draw a single bond (a pair of shared electrons) between H and F to represent the covalent bond. This accounts for 2 electrons shared between the atoms.
Place the remaining valence electrons as lone pairs on fluorine to complete its octet. Since fluorine started with 7 valence electrons and shares 1 with hydrogen, it will have 3 lone pairs (6 electrons) left.
Verify that hydrogen has 2 electrons around it (duet complete) and fluorine has 8 electrons around it (octet complete), confirming the correct Lewis structure is H - F with three lone pairs on F.
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