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 Lewis structure below correctly represents the compound formed between magnesium and sulfur?

Mg with no dots and S with eight dots, with Mg and S connected by brackets and charges: [Mg]^{2+} [S]^{2-}

Mg with one dot and S with seven dots, connected by a single line

Mg with two dots and S with six dots, connected by a single line

Mg and S each with eight dots, connected by a double line

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the types of elements involved and their typical ionic charges. Magnesium (Mg) is a metal that commonly forms a +2 cation (Mg^{2+}), and sulfur (S) is a nonmetal that commonly forms a -2 anion (S^{2-}).

Step 2: Understand that the compound formed between Mg and S is ionic, meaning electrons are transferred from Mg to S rather than shared. This results in Mg losing two electrons and S gaining two electrons.

Step 3: Recognize that in the Lewis structure for ionic compounds, the metal cation (Mg^{2+}) is represented without any dots (since it has lost its valence electrons), and the nonmetal anion (S^{2-}) is represented with a full octet of eight dots around it, indicating it has gained electrons.

Step 4: Note that the ions are shown in brackets with their respective charges to indicate the ionic nature of the compound, for example, [Mg]^{2+} and [S]^{2-}. There are no lines (bonds) between them because ionic bonds are electrostatic attractions, not shared electron pairs.

Step 5: Compare this understanding to the given options and select the Lewis structure that shows Mg with no dots and a 2+ charge, S with eight dots and a 2- charge, both enclosed in brackets, representing the ionic compound MgS correctly.