High School
SAT
ACT
University
MCAT
LSAT
DAT
Wize University Chemistry Textbook > Lewis Structures & Resonance Structures

Filling in a Skeletal Structure

Lewis and Resonance Structures of Organic Compounds Previous Section
VSEPR (Molecular Shapes)Next Section
Popular Courses
Find My Course
0:00 / 0:00

Skeletal Structures: Worked Example


Complete the following skeletal structure. Please show all lone pairs and formal charges
Step 1: Add up total number of valence electrons (6 X 4) + (6 X 1) = 30
Step 2: Subtract the # of electrons that are already used in the skeletal structure 30 -24 = 6 e-
Step 3: Put l.p. on very electronegative atoms (O, Cl, F, N)
  • Nitrogen and Phosphorus get 1 lone pair
  • Oxygen and Sulfur get 2 lone pairs
  • The Halogens (group 17) get 3 lone pairs
Not Necessary here
Step 4: Add double bonds so that every atom has an octet


Step 5: Evaluate the structure and rearrange if necessary.

All atoms have no formal charge and all atoms are obeying the octet rule so we are done
0:00 / 0:00
Complete the following skeletal structure. Please show all lone pairs and formal charges







checklist
Mark Yourself Question
  1. Grab a piece of paper and try this problem yourself.
  2. When you're done, check the "I have answered this question" box below.
  3. View the solution and report whether you got it right or wrong.
Complete the best Lewis structure of the organic compound shown below (CH3CH2NO2). Determine the formal charge on the nitrogen.


Complete the following skeletal structure. Please show all lone pairs and formal charges.


How many double bonds are there in the best resonance structure?
Complete the best Lewis structure of p-aminosalicylic acid (C7H7NO3) below to answer the following questions.



a) How many valence electrons are in the complete Lewis structure?


b) What is the formal charge on the nitrogen atom?


c) How many double bonds are there in the complete Lewis structure?


d) How many lone pairs of electrons are there in the complete Lewis structure?