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

What is the total number of electrons represented in the Lewis dot structure of a neutral carbon dioxide (CO_2) molecule?

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Identify the total number of valence electrons contributed by each atom in the CO_2 molecule. Carbon (C) is in group 14 and contributes 4 valence electrons, while each oxygen (O) atom is in group 16 and contributes 6 valence electrons.

Calculate the total valence electrons by adding the contributions from all atoms: total electrons = valence electrons from C + 2 × valence electrons from O.

Since the molecule is neutral, the total number of valence electrons equals the total number of electrons represented in the Lewis dot structure.

Draw the Lewis structure by placing the carbon atom in the center and connecting it to each oxygen atom with bonds, then distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs to satisfy the octet rule for each atom.

Count all the electrons shown in the Lewis structure, including bonding electrons (shared pairs) and lone pairs (non-bonding electrons), to confirm the total number of electrons represented.