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 statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of neutral H2CO3 (carbonic acid)?

The central carbon atom is bonded to two oxygen atoms, each double-bonded, and both hydrogens are attached directly to the carbon.

The central carbon atom is bonded to two oxygen atoms, one single-bonded and one double-bonded, and both hydrogens are attached to the double-bonded oxygen.

The central carbon atom is bonded to three oxygen atoms, all single-bonded, and both hydrogens are attached directly to the carbon.

The central carbon atom is bonded to three oxygen atoms, with one oxygen double-bonded and the other two single-bonded; each single-bonded oxygen also has a hydrogen attached.

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Verified step by step guidance

Identify the central atom in the molecule H2CO3, which is carbon (C), because carbon typically forms four bonds and acts as the central atom in carbon-containing acids.

Determine the number of oxygen atoms bonded to the carbon. In carbonic acid, carbon is bonded to three oxygen atoms.

Assign bonding types: one oxygen is double-bonded to carbon, while the other two oxygens are single-bonded to carbon. This arrangement satisfies carbon's four bonds (one double bond counts as two bonds, plus two single bonds).

Attach hydrogen atoms to the oxygen atoms that are single-bonded to carbon, not directly to carbon. This is because in acids like H2CO3, hydrogens are typically bonded to oxygen atoms, forming hydroxyl groups (-OH).

Verify the Lewis structure by counting valence electrons to ensure all atoms have complete octets (except hydrogen, which follows the duet rule) and that the molecule is neutral overall.