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 SeO_2?

Selenium is the central atom, bonded to two oxygen atoms, with no lone pairs on selenium and each oxygen atom having three lone pairs.

Selenium is bonded to one oxygen atom and has three lone pairs, while the oxygen atom has one lone pair.

Selenium is the central atom, bonded to two oxygen atoms, with two lone pairs on selenium and each oxygen atom having one lone pair.

Selenium is the central atom, bonded to two oxygen atoms, with one lone pair on selenium and each oxygen atom having two lone pairs.

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons available for SeO_2. Selenium (Se) is in group 16 and has 6 valence electrons, and each oxygen (O) atom also has 6 valence electrons. Since there are two oxygen atoms, total valence electrons = 6 (Se) + 2 × 6 (O) = 18 electrons.

Step 2: Identify the central atom. Selenium is less electronegative than oxygen, so selenium will be the central atom bonded to two oxygen atoms.

Step 3: Draw single bonds between selenium and each oxygen atom. Each single bond uses 2 electrons, so 2 bonds use 4 electrons. Subtract these from the total valence electrons: 18 - 4 = 14 electrons remaining.

Step 4: Distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs to satisfy the octet rule. Start by placing lone pairs on the oxygen atoms to complete their octets. Each oxygen needs 6 more electrons (3 lone pairs) to complete an octet after the single bond. Assign these lone pairs to oxygens first.

Step 5: Check the selenium atom's electrons after assigning lone pairs to oxygens. Selenium will have some lone pairs left. Adjust bonding if necessary (e.g., form double bonds) to ensure all atoms have complete octets and the total number of electrons equals 18. This leads to selenium having one lone pair and each oxygen having two lone pairs, matching the correct Lewis structure.