Multiple Choice
Which of the following compounds could have a Lewis structure with an incomplete octet?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Exceptions
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Which of the following molecules is an example of a free radical that is an exception to the octet rule in its Lewis dot structure?
A
CH4
B
NO
C
NH3
D
CO2
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand what a free radical is: a molecule or atom that has an unpaired electron, making it highly reactive and often an exception to the octet rule.
Review the Lewis dot structures of each molecule to determine if they have unpaired electrons and if they follow the octet rule:
For CH4 (methane), draw the Lewis structure showing carbon with four single bonds to hydrogen, completing its octet with no unpaired electrons.
For NH3 (ammonia), draw the Lewis structure showing nitrogen with three single bonds to hydrogen and one lone pair, completing its octet with no unpaired electrons.
For NO (nitric oxide), draw the Lewis structure and note that it has an odd number of electrons, resulting in one unpaired electron, making it a free radical and an exception to the octet rule.
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