HW Question 3.41

[Megan Purl 1E]

Can someone explain how to do question 3.41 part c? Write the Lewis structure for clycine, H2C(NH2)COOH.

[Danah Albaaj 1I]

Hi! So for the Lewis structure, you have to connect the central carbon to its own two hydrogen as well as the NH2 and COOH. So basically just put one carbon in the center, then attach a nitrogen on one side, and another carbon on the other. From there bond the remaining parts of each compound to each element in the main line. So nitrogen gets 2 H and the middle carbon gets 2 H and the last carbon gets 2 O and a H. From there you just distribute the electrons as evenly as possible!

[juchung7]

So the way they give you cycline is kind of nice, because they group the location of the elements to help you draw lewis structure. Since carbon is the least electronegative element, we put one in the center, and then build off from there as said in the comment above. Because they give you H2C(NH2)COOH, you know that the first two hydrogens, NH2 and COOH will all stem off the central carbon. When you calculate the amount of valence electrons (which is 30), you'll be able to place possible double bonds and lone pairs so that the structure makes sense.