Lewis Structure

The central concept of covalent bonding by G. N. Lewis is the so-called Lewis structure. This representation accounts for all the valence electrons contributed by each atom in a molecule. For example, the nitrogen monoxide molecule, NO has 5 + 6 = 11 valence electrons. To draw the Lewis structure for this molecule, we write the letter denoting the atoms first:

Then, put a line joining the two atoms. This line represents a bond which uses 2 of the valence electrons.

Next, place the remaining 11 2 = 9 electrons on the outermost atoms (we will highlight this point in another example), beginning with the more electronegative element first. Remember that the valence shell of C, N, O, and F can only accommodate a maximum of eight electrons.

Next, we calculate the formal charge on each atom. The nucleus gives a positive formal charge equal to the number of valence electron it has. For N it is +5 and O is +6. Each valence electron contributes a negative charge and each bond (2 electrons) contributes only one electron because a bond is shared between two nuclei. The formal charge is the sum of these quantities. N O Nuclei +5 +6 Valence electron 3 6 Bonding electron 1 1 Formal charge +1 1 The Lewis structure drawn for NO is actually one of the possible resonance forms. However, this resonance form is not stable due to the presence of formal charge on each atom. Ideally, the formal charge on each atom should be zero (though this is not always possible). The resonance form with the least formal charge developed on each atom is the most stable form. So, to reduce the formal charge on each atom, we need to move a pair of electron from the atom which has excess electrons to the bonding site.

N
If we re-calculate the formal charges:

N O Nuclei +5 +6 Valence electron 3 4 Bonding electron 2 2 Formal charge 0 0 We thus have the structure of nitrogen monoxide. Let us consider another example, using the thiosulfate ion . The number of valence electrons is (including the charge) 6 2 + 6 3 + 2 = 32. Now we place the position of the nuclei, bearing in mind that the atoms must somewhat be connected to one another. As an additional hint, place the less electronegative element and / or the element capable of expanding the octet at the centre.

O S S
O

O O S S
O

Then draw a line joining the centre atom to the rest of the atoms as shown. We need to place the remaining 32 8 = 24 electrons on the outmost and most electronegative atoms first. The numerals indicated are just for numbering purposes.

O1 S2 S1 O2

O3
The formal charges are S1 S2 O1 O2 O3 Nuclei +6 +6 +6 +6 +6 Valence electron 0 6 6 6 6 Bonding electron 4 1 1 1 1 Formal charge +2 1 1 1 1 The centre S atom has a high formal charge. A lone pair from S2 (not O because O is more electronegative) can be moved to form a bond in order to reduce the formal charge.

O1 S2 S1 O2 S2

O1
S1 O3 O2

O3
Again, checking the formal charges S1 Nuclei +6 Valence electron 0 Bonding electron 5 Formal charge +1

S2 O1 O2 O3 +6 +6 +6 +6 4 6 6 6 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 1

We need to move the lone pair of electrons again, from either one of the oxygen. We are not moving from sulfur because S2 has attained neutrality.

O1 S2 S1 O3
S1 S2 O1 Nuclei +6 +6 +6 Valence electron 0 4 6 Bonding electron 6 2 1 Formal charge 0 0 1

O1
O2

S2

S1
O3

O2

O2 O3 +6 +6 4 6 2 1 0 1

From the check, there are no more atoms having positive formal charge. Therefore, we are no longer able to move any more electrons despite there are still another two O atom having a negative formal charge. The negative formal charge on the two O is the charge of the anion. Therefore, the thiosulfate ion can be re-written as

O
S S O
Lewis structure is able to explain the molecular formula for many compounds. The molecular formula can be established through many independent methods, such as elemental analysis via

combustion experiments or through mass spectrometry. The octet rule was not due to Lewis himself, but has become an important rule for determining the correct molecular structure.