3m. The covalent bonding in the nitrogen molecule

Doc Brown's Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and structure GCSE level, IGCSE, O, IB, AS, A level US grade 9-12 level Revision Notes

A further selection of dot & cross electronic Lewis diagrams for covalent bonding in molecules, particularly simple organic molecules.

Only the outer valency electrons are shown for carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and chlorine.

Can you deduce these electronic diagrams of covalently bonded molecules for yourself?

Ex. 10 nitrogen N₂; Ex. 11 ethane C₂H₆; Ex. 12 chloromethane CH₃Cl and Ex. 13 methanol CH₃OH.

Electronic origin of the diagrams showing the outer electrons of N, C, Cl and O: N at. no. 7 (2.5), H at. no. (1), C at. no. 6 (2.4), Cl at. no. 17 (2.8.7) and O at. no. 8 (2.6) plus a variety of crosses and blobs!

The valencies or combining power in these examples are N 3, H 1, C 4, Cl 1 and O 2, so,  these valency numbers correspond to the number of electrons the atom needs to give a stable outer shell - that's what valency is all about!

Only the outer electrons are shown in the dot and cross Lewis diagram of nitrogen below.

 Doc Brown's Chemistry 

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