Lewis structures and valence-electron accounting
A Lewis diagram accounts for bonding and nonbonding valence electrons in a specified connectivity.
Key knowledge
For a molecular Lewis diagram, total the atoms' valence electrons, adding electrons for negative charge and subtracting them for positive charge. A bond line represents a shared electron pair; dots can represent lone pairs. Place these electrons on a proposed atom connectivity and check the total charge and electron count. Hydrogen commonly has a duet, and many main-group centers an octet; odd-electron, electron-deficient and hypervalent species require exceptions.
Conditions and scope
- An introductory localized valence-electron representation, not the full electronic wavefunction or proof that a proposed structure is stable.
- Connectivity and resonance contributors must be assessed separately; the octet guideline is not universal.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Electron totals, bonding pairs, lone pairs and bounded duet/octet guidelines for Lewis representations.
2026-10-10 · Independent Mathematics and Information editor (AI editorial/source review; not the Chemistry/Biology/Earth author). The specified introductory inventory has no unresolved demonstrated material gap after the changes and body-based reuse. Existing advanced references retain their historical scoped approvals. English-only reference prose and explicit Lithuanian-translation-pending status are preserved.
Foundational review
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial inspection of this new compact reference entry, its equations, applicability, sources and knowledge connections.
Sources from other places
Scope or convention differs
Valence-electron dots and shared bonding pairs in simple molecules.
The comparison covers simple structures; the record retains charge counting and model limitations.
Siyavula
- Physical Sciences 10: Lewis structures South AfricaEnglish
§6.2 Valence-electron dots and bonding pairs
- Physical Sciences 10: Lewis structures
Entry details
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