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Lewis Structures

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:39 am
by sarahwu3a
For molecules with only 2 atoms and a single charge, how do you determine which atom gets the charge and which atom has a formal charge of zero?

Re: Lewis Structures

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 12:46 pm
by Reagan Smith 1H
You put the negative formal charge on the more electronegative atom.

Re: Lewis Structures

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:07 pm
by Amina Durrani 3G
The more electronegative atom should have a negative charge if the other atom’s charge is 0, but it should have a 0 charge if the other atom’s charge is positive.

Re: Lewis Structures

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 5:23 pm
by MBouwman_4A
Electrons are shifted toward the more electronegative atom, so the more electronegative atom is the one with the negative charge.

Re: Lewis Structures

Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 5:57 pm
by Qilan Li 4I
You would have to find out the formal charge of both atoms. I usually do this by comparing the number of electrons that are surrounding an atom with the number of electrons the neutral atom normally has. However, the atom with greater electronegativity usually has a negative charge or at least that is how you should draw your lewis structure according to my TA.