Multiple Choice
Which of the following elements typically forms two chemical bonds and has a Lewis dot structure with six valence electrons?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
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Which of the following best represents the correct Lewis dot structure for a neutral N_2 molecule?
A
:N≡N:
B
N–N
C
:N=N:
D
:N–N:
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons for the N₂ molecule. Each nitrogen atom has 5 valence electrons, so for N₂, total valence electrons = 5 × 2 = 10.
Step 2: Connect the two nitrogen atoms with a single bond initially, which uses 2 electrons. Subtract these from the total valence electrons to find the remaining electrons to distribute.
Step 3: Distribute the remaining electrons to satisfy the octet rule for each nitrogen atom. Remember that nitrogen atoms tend to form multiple bonds to complete their octet.
Step 4: Adjust the bonding by increasing the number of bonds between the nitrogen atoms (single, double, or triple) and redistribute electrons as lone pairs to ensure each nitrogen has 8 electrons total.
Step 5: Identify the structure where both nitrogen atoms have a complete octet and the total number of electrons used equals 10. The correct Lewis structure for N₂ is the one with a triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms and one lone pair on each nitrogen, represented as :N≡N:.
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