Scientific Tutor

What is the lesson about?

We already learned how ionic compounds form in a previous lesson. The Electron Dot Structures (Lewis Structures) Lesson is about how covalent molecules (non-metal compounds) form. A person named Lewis is the one that described this and that is why it has the name Lewis structures.

Why is it critical to understand?

With a complete education about electron dot structures (Lewis structures), you become very powerful with chemistry. That is to say you can predict how covalent compounds will chemically act just by looking at how they are put together.  Valence electron dot structures (Lewis structures) explains things like why water and oil will not mix or why water will form small beads on some surfaces but not others or why oxygen can so easily move from your lungs to your blood stream. In AP and college courses, Electron Dot Structures (Lewis structures) are extremely important to know. This lesson is also the foundation into what is know as organic chemistry. If you do not do well in the electron dot structures (Lewis structures) lesson then it is not possible to pass any lesson or class in organic chemistry.

What you should know before attempting this lesson?

If you have trouble in this lesson go back to the sections Valence Electrons and Drawing Valence Electrons Around an Atom.

New Learning Sections:

—> Putting Together an Electron Dot Structure (Lewis Structure)  Part 1

—> Finding the Central Atom Part 2

—> Drawing Atoms in a Cross Shape Part 3

—> Filling in the Valence Electrons of an Electron Dot Structure (Lewis Structure) Part 4

—> Filling in the Valence Electrons of an Electron Dot Structure (Lewis Structure) that is an Ion Part 5

—> Covalent Bonds in Electron Dot Structures (Lewis Structures) Part 6

—> Completing the Octet Part 7

—> College: Completing the Octet Continued

—> Resonance Structures

—> College: Finding the Formal Charge

—> College: Using the Formal Charge

—> Molecular Shapes (Molecular Geometry)

—> Bond Angle 

—> College: Molecular Shapes and Bond Angle Continued

—> College: Electron Geometry and Steric Number

—> College: Hybridization (sp, sp², sp³)

—> Bond Polarity and Electronegativity Part 1

—> Bond Polarity and Electronegativity Part 2 

—> Molecular Polarity (Polar or Non-Polar Molecules)

—> Intermolecular Forces from Electron Dot Structures (Lewis Structures)

Reference Pages:

—> Valence Electron Dot Structure (Lewis Structure) Rules

—>  Simple Octet Rules

—>  College:  Complete Octet Rules

—>  Simple Molecular Shapes (Molecular Geometry) and Bond Angle

—>  College:  Complete Molecular Shapes (Molecular Geometry) and Bond Angle

—>  College:  Electron Geometry and Steric Number

—>  Electronegativity Table

—>  Electronegativity Difference and Types of Bonds Rules

—>  Intermolecular Forces Rules

Worksheets: