Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of CF_4 (carbon tetrafluoride)?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
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Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of neutral SCl2?
A
Sulfur is the central atom with two double bonds to chlorine atoms and no lone pairs on sulfur.
B
Chlorine is the central atom with two single bonds to sulfur and two lone pairs on chlorine.
C
Sulfur is the central atom with one single bond and one double bond to chlorine atoms and one lone pair on sulfur.
D
Sulfur is the central atom with two single bonds to chlorine atoms and two lone pairs on sulfur.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the central atom in SCl2. Since sulfur (S) is less electronegative than chlorine (Cl), sulfur will be the central atom.
Determine the total number of valence electrons. Sulfur has 6 valence electrons, and each chlorine has 7 valence electrons, so total valence electrons = 6 + 2 × 7 = 20 electrons.
Draw single bonds between sulfur and each chlorine atom. Each single bond uses 2 electrons, so 2 bonds use 4 electrons.
Distribute the remaining electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Place lone pairs on the chlorine atoms first to complete their octets, then place any remaining electrons as lone pairs on sulfur.
Check the structure for formal charges and octet completion. Sulfur should have two single bonds to chlorine and two lone pairs, while each chlorine has three lone pairs, resulting in a neutral molecule with no formal charges.
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