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 best describes the correct Lewis dot structure for the neutral compound CHF?

Carbon is the central atom, single-bonded to both hydrogen and fluorine, with three lone pairs on fluorine.

Fluorine is the central atom, single-bonded to both carbon and hydrogen, with two lone pairs on carbon.

Carbon is the central atom, double-bonded to fluorine and single-bonded to hydrogen, with two lone pairs on fluorine.

Hydrogen is the central atom, single-bonded to both carbon and fluorine, with one lone pair on hydrogen.

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the atoms involved and their typical bonding patterns. Carbon (C) usually forms 4 bonds, hydrogen (H) forms 1 bond, and fluorine (F) forms 1 bond and typically has 3 lone pairs to complete its octet.

Step 2: Determine the central atom. Usually, the least electronegative atom (except hydrogen) is the central atom. Hydrogen is never central because it can only form one bond. Between carbon and fluorine, carbon is less electronegative, so carbon is the central atom.

Step 3: Connect the atoms with single bonds initially. Draw carbon in the center bonded to hydrogen and fluorine each with a single bond.

Step 4: Complete the octets of the outer atoms first. Hydrogen only needs 2 electrons (already satisfied by one bond), fluorine needs 8 electrons total, so add three lone pairs (6 electrons) to fluorine to complete its octet.

Step 5: Check the central atom's octet. Carbon has two single bonds (4 electrons). Since carbon can have 8 electrons, check if double bonds are necessary. In this case, carbon's octet is satisfied with single bonds to hydrogen and fluorine, so no double bonds are needed.