A Lewis diagram shows how the valence electrons are distributed around the atoms in a molecule. Shared pairs of electrons are drawn as lines between atoms, while lone pairs of …

So let's look at what we have so far for our dot structure, and let's see if we can create multiple bonds somehow. So if I took one of these electron pairs here, and I moved them into here, …

Lewis diagrams for atoms and ions are models that show the number of valence electrons (outermost electrons) they have. Lewis diagrams of atoms show the element's symbol …

Lewis diagrams (or Lewis structures) are models that show how atoms are bonded together in a molecule and the arrangement of valence electrons around the atoms in that molecule.

Let's do one for CH20, so if I want to draw the dot structure for the molecular formula CH20, once again, I start with carbon in the center, so four valence electrons like that, and two hydrogens, …

Now when you're drawing dot structures, you don't always have to do this step where you're drawing each individual atom and summing all of your valence electrons that way.

A Lewis diagram shows how the valence electrons are distributed around the atoms in a molecule. Shared pairs of electrons are drawn as lines between atoms, while lone pairs of …

Check your understanding of Lewis diagrams in this set of free practice questions designed for AP Chemistry students.

Let's go ahead and look and see what our dot structure would look like and assign some formal charges. So now, I would have sulfur double bonded to this top oxygen, and double bonded to …

Check your understanding of identifying the dot structures of heteroatomic molecules by knowing the valence electrons they share to achieve a full octet or duet (in the case of hydrogen).