Chapter 7: Lewis Structures and Resonance

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to Lewis structures, formal charges, and resonance, as discussed in Chapter 7.

Lewis structure

A diagram that shows the bonding between atoms of a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons.

Formal charge

The charge an atom appears to have assuming that electrons in all chemical bonds are shared equally.

Resonance

The representation of a molecule that can be depicted by two or more valid Lewis structures.

Electron deficient

Refers to molecules or ions that do not have a complete octet of electrons, often found in certain groups such as Group 2 & 13.

Hypervalent electron

Refers to elements that can accommodate more than eight electrons in their valence shell, typically due to available d orbitals.

Odd electron number

Species that contain an odd number of electrons, resulting in unpaired electrons and free radicals.

Electronegativity

A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.

Electrons configuration

The distribution of electrons of an atom or molecule in atomic or molecular orbitals.

Decreasing electronegativity

Refers to the order of elements from highest to lowest electronegativity.

Melting point

The temperature at which a solid becomes a liquid; can vary between compounds based on molecular structure.