Lewis Structures for Ionic Bonds
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Lewis Structures for Ionic Bonds
What's the difference when drawing a lewis structure for an ionic and covalent bond?
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Re: Lewis Structures for Ionic Bonds
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.
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Re: Lewis Structures for Ionic Bonds
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.
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Re: Lewis Structures for Ionic Bonds
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.
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Re: Lewis Structures for Ionic Bonds
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?
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Re: Lewis Structures for Ionic Bonds
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.
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