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 Lewis dot structures correctly represents the neutral compound CaCl_2?

Ca atom with 8 dots, each Cl atom with 8 dots

Ca atom with 2 dots, each Cl atom with 7 dots, all atoms neutral

Ca^{2+} surrounded by two Cl^{-} ions, each Cl with 8 valence electrons (full octet), and no electrons shown on Ca

Ca^{2+} bonded to two Cl atoms, each Cl with 6 dots

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the type of compound and bonding involved. CaCl_2 is an ionic compound formed between a metal (Ca) and nonmetals (Cl). Calcium tends to lose electrons to form a cation, and chlorine tends to gain electrons to form anions.

Step 2: Determine the electron configuration changes. Calcium (Ca) has 2 valence electrons and will lose both to form Ca^{2+}. Each chlorine atom (Cl) has 7 valence electrons and will gain 1 electron to complete its octet, becoming Cl^{-}.

Step 3: Draw the Lewis structure showing the ions. Represent Ca as Ca^{2+} with no dots around it because it has lost its valence electrons. Each Cl atom should be shown with 8 dots (representing a full octet) and a negative charge to indicate the gained electron.

Step 4: Confirm the neutrality of the compound. The overall charge must be zero, so one Ca^{2+} ion balances two Cl^{-} ions, resulting in a neutral compound CaCl_2.

Step 5: Understand why other options are incorrect. Neutral atoms with dots around Ca or Cl do not represent the ionic nature of CaCl_2. The correct Lewis structure must show Ca^{2+} and Cl^{-} ions with appropriate charges and full octets on Cl.