Drawing Lewis Structures

Part of the Structure and Bonding section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 10 of 49.

Step 1: count the valence electrons. Step 2: join the atoms with single bonds, the atom with most bonds in the middle, H outside.

Step 3: lone pairs on the outer atoms to 8 (H to 2). Step 4: the rest on the centre; check every atom.

Water: 8 electrons, 2 bonds (4) and 2 lone pairs on O (4).

Water: O bonded to two H, with two lone pairs on O

Water, H₂O: two bonds, two lone pairs

Challenge

Ammonia is made from the air's nitrogen to feed the world's crops. Draw the Lewis structure of ammonia, NH₃.

Try it yourself

Lewis boardDraw the Lewis structure of NH₃

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Structure and Bonding

2Covalent Bonds

5Forces Between Molecules

8Practice Problems

3Shapes of Molecules

6Metals and Giant Structures