Name: Joseph Dye Date: 02/18/2025 Partner: Camryn, Chloe
Lewis Structures: Procedure
Safety: 4. Distribute the remaining valence
electrons as indicated:
a. Add electrons to each exterior atom so
We are not using chemicals in this lab, each exterior atom has a full shell.
but the laboratory classroom is still not b. Add any remaining electrons to the
a perfectly safe place. Please be careful interior (central) atom.
and consider that students in other 5. Evaluate the structure to ensure all atoms
sections which use the laboratory space have a full shell. If they do not, share
may have left behind spills or other more electrons by forming double and/or
residues of the chemicals they used on triple bonds by bringing in electrons
from exterior atoms. (Repeat this step
the benchtop or on the floor. Clean the
until all atoms have a full shell).
benchtop working area before leaning 6. Record the Lewis structure on your data
on it, and be sure to continue to observe sheet.
standard laboratory safety rules about 7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for each
not eating, drinking, or applying lip molecule or polyatomic ion on the data
balm while in the lab. sheet.
Part II. Predicting Molecular Shapes:
Materials:
1. Count the number of covalent bonding
Ball-and-stick molecular model kit interactions and the number of lone
Large Beaker (non-bonding) electron pairs
surrounding the molecule’s central
atom.
2. Predict the electronic geometry based on
Procedure: the number of electron sets counted.
3. Determine the geometric distribution of
The procedure occurs in multiple parts. the atoms in the molecule, or the
Note that the first entry in the data sheet molecular shape, based on the electronic
models how your responses should be geometry and the number of lone pairs
entered. of electrons on the central atom.
4. Draw the predicted molecular shape on
Part I. Drawing Lewis Structures: your data sheet in the space
provided. Use wedge and dash lines if
1. Count the total number of valence necessary to indicate 3-dimensional
electrons available. Record the number structures.
on your data sheet. 5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for each
2. Arrange the atoms in order of molecule or polyatomic ion on the data
connectivity. sheet. You may use table 1 to help with
3. Connect the central atom to each of the your VSEPR predictions:
exterior atoms with single bonds.
Lewis Structures v.1.1 updated 4/29/24 by Mary Alvarez 1
, Name: Joseph Dye Date: 02/18/2025 Partner: Camryn, Chloe
Table 1: VSEPR Geometry based on electron sets 5. Repeat steps 1-4 for each molecule and
polyatomic ion on the data sheet.
# of # of
Electronic Molecular Table 2 may be helpful in your model
Electron 2 Lone
Geometry Geometry construction:
Sets1 Pairs
Table 2: Pieces for Molecular Models, ball-and-stick
2 linear - linear
Ball color or
Atom or Bond stick
trigonal
0 color/shape
trigonal planar
3
planar Carbon, C Black
1 bent
Hydrogen, H White
0 tetrahedral
trigonal Oxygen, O Red
4 tetrahedral 1
pyramidal
Nitrogen, N Blue
2 bent
1 Chlorine, Cl Green
One electron set is defined as either a lone
(unbonded) pair of electrons, or a single bonding
interaction (single double, and triple bonds each Single Bond Grey Sticks
count as only one set).
2
The electronic and molecular geometries listed are Double or Longer Flexible
for the arrangement of the electron sets around the Triple bonds Grey Sticks
single central atom only.
Part III. Ball-and-stick Models:
1. Obtain a molecular model kit. Transfer Clean Up:
the contents to a large beaker.
2. Construct a ball-and-stick model from Return the ball-and-stick models to the
the Lewis structure drawn for each molecular model kit provided. Put away the
molecule or polyatomic ion. beaker.
3. Draw the ball-and-stick model on your
data sheet in the space provided. Use
wedge and dash lines if necessary to
indicate 3-dimensional structures.
4. Compare your ball-and-stick model to
the predicted VSEPR shape. Consider:
do they match? Why or why not?
Record your observations and
explanations in the space provided.
Lewis Structures v.1.1 updated 4/29/24 by Mary Alvarez 2
Lewis Structures: Procedure
Safety: 4. Distribute the remaining valence
electrons as indicated:
a. Add electrons to each exterior atom so
We are not using chemicals in this lab, each exterior atom has a full shell.
but the laboratory classroom is still not b. Add any remaining electrons to the
a perfectly safe place. Please be careful interior (central) atom.
and consider that students in other 5. Evaluate the structure to ensure all atoms
sections which use the laboratory space have a full shell. If they do not, share
may have left behind spills or other more electrons by forming double and/or
residues of the chemicals they used on triple bonds by bringing in electrons
from exterior atoms. (Repeat this step
the benchtop or on the floor. Clean the
until all atoms have a full shell).
benchtop working area before leaning 6. Record the Lewis structure on your data
on it, and be sure to continue to observe sheet.
standard laboratory safety rules about 7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 for each
not eating, drinking, or applying lip molecule or polyatomic ion on the data
balm while in the lab. sheet.
Part II. Predicting Molecular Shapes:
Materials:
1. Count the number of covalent bonding
Ball-and-stick molecular model kit interactions and the number of lone
Large Beaker (non-bonding) electron pairs
surrounding the molecule’s central
atom.
2. Predict the electronic geometry based on
Procedure: the number of electron sets counted.
3. Determine the geometric distribution of
The procedure occurs in multiple parts. the atoms in the molecule, or the
Note that the first entry in the data sheet molecular shape, based on the electronic
models how your responses should be geometry and the number of lone pairs
entered. of electrons on the central atom.
4. Draw the predicted molecular shape on
Part I. Drawing Lewis Structures: your data sheet in the space
provided. Use wedge and dash lines if
1. Count the total number of valence necessary to indicate 3-dimensional
electrons available. Record the number structures.
on your data sheet. 5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for each
2. Arrange the atoms in order of molecule or polyatomic ion on the data
connectivity. sheet. You may use table 1 to help with
3. Connect the central atom to each of the your VSEPR predictions:
exterior atoms with single bonds.
Lewis Structures v.1.1 updated 4/29/24 by Mary Alvarez 1
, Name: Joseph Dye Date: 02/18/2025 Partner: Camryn, Chloe
Table 1: VSEPR Geometry based on electron sets 5. Repeat steps 1-4 for each molecule and
polyatomic ion on the data sheet.
# of # of
Electronic Molecular Table 2 may be helpful in your model
Electron 2 Lone
Geometry Geometry construction:
Sets1 Pairs
Table 2: Pieces for Molecular Models, ball-and-stick
2 linear - linear
Ball color or
Atom or Bond stick
trigonal
0 color/shape
trigonal planar
3
planar Carbon, C Black
1 bent
Hydrogen, H White
0 tetrahedral
trigonal Oxygen, O Red
4 tetrahedral 1
pyramidal
Nitrogen, N Blue
2 bent
1 Chlorine, Cl Green
One electron set is defined as either a lone
(unbonded) pair of electrons, or a single bonding
interaction (single double, and triple bonds each Single Bond Grey Sticks
count as only one set).
2
The electronic and molecular geometries listed are Double or Longer Flexible
for the arrangement of the electron sets around the Triple bonds Grey Sticks
single central atom only.
Part III. Ball-and-stick Models:
1. Obtain a molecular model kit. Transfer Clean Up:
the contents to a large beaker.
2. Construct a ball-and-stick model from Return the ball-and-stick models to the
the Lewis structure drawn for each molecular model kit provided. Put away the
molecule or polyatomic ion. beaker.
3. Draw the ball-and-stick model on your
data sheet in the space provided. Use
wedge and dash lines if necessary to
indicate 3-dimensional structures.
4. Compare your ball-and-stick model to
the predicted VSEPR shape. Consider:
do they match? Why or why not?
Record your observations and
explanations in the space provided.
Lewis Structures v.1.1 updated 4/29/24 by Mary Alvarez 2
