Lewis Structures for Ionic Bonds

[Victoria Luu - 1C]

What's the difference when drawing a lewis structure for an ionic and covalent bond?

[ChathuriGunasekera1D]

There's not really a difference when drawing, because Lewis structures just outline the lone pairs and what types of bonds exist within a molecule.

[ellienelson4F]

A lewis structure for a covalent bond will have shared pairs, of electrons while a lewis structure for an ionic bond will just demonstrate charge and valence electrons. Below is the lewis structure of NaCl, an ionic compound, so you can see the difference.

[Brian Hom 2F]

Lewis structures for ionic bonds are just the cations and anions put side by side with the charges of each ion put to the side of the respective ion. Make sure that each atom has an octet.

[Adam Vuilleumier 2K]

I was just wondering why we put the 8 electrons around the anion, but we don't for the cation. Don't they both have filled valence shells?

[ellienelson4F]

I think the reason you put the dots (8 electrons) around the anion and not the cation is to demonstrate which of the atoms has just gained a full shell. It explains the concept of the anion filling its outer shell while the cation has emptied its previously most outer shell.