Write a Lewis structure for formaldehyde, HC(=O)H, showing all valence electrons. • You do not have to consider stereochemistry. Explicitly draw all H atoms. • Include all valence lone pairs in your answer.
Formal Charges
Formal charges have an important role in organic chemistry since this concept helps us to know whether an atom in a molecule is neutral/bears a positive or negative charge. Even if some molecules are neutral, the atoms within that molecule need not be neutral atoms.
Polarity Of Water
In simple chemical terms, polarity refers to the separation of charges in a chemical species leading into formation of two polar ends which are positively charged end and negatively charged end. Polarity in any molecule occurs due to the differences in the electronegativities of the bonded atoms. Water, as we all know has two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom. As oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen thus, there exists polarity in the bonds which is why water is known as a polar solvent.
Valence Bond Theory Vbt
Valence bond theory (VBT) in simple terms explains how individual atomic orbitals with an unpaired electron each, come close to each other and overlap to form a molecular orbital giving a covalent bond. It gives a quantum mechanical approach to the formation of covalent bonds with the help of wavefunctions using attractive and repulsive energies when two atoms are brought from infinity to their internuclear distance.
![**Drawing the Lewis Structure for Formaldehyde (HC(=O)H):**
For this exercise, you need to write a Lewis structure for formaldehyde, HC(=O)H, showing all valence electrons. Here are a few guidelines to complete this task effectively:
**Guidelines:**
- You do not have to consider stereochemistry.
- Explicitly draw all hydrogen (H) atoms.
- Include all valence lone pairs in your answer.
**Instructions:**
- **Step 1:** Identify the total number of valence electrons in the molecule. Formaldehyde consists of one carbon (C), two hydrogen (H), and one oxygen (O). Carbon has 4 valence electrons, each hydrogen has 1 valence electron, and oxygen has 6 valence electrons. Thus, the total number of valence electrons to work with is:
\[ 4 (C) + 1 (H) + 1 (H) + 6 (O) = 12 \text{ valence electrons} \]
- **Step 2:** Draw the skeleton structure of the molecule. Carbon is the central atom, with hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom bonded to it. Oxygen will form a double bond with carbon to satisfy the octet rule for both atoms.
- **Step 3:** Distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs to complete the octets for the atoms involved.
Here's a simple manual drawing of the structure:
\[
H-C=O-H
\]
Where:
- The double line between C and O represents a double bond (4 electrons).
- Single lines between C and each H represent single bonds (2 electrons each, 4 total).
Valence lone pairs on oxygen should be illustrated as dots around the oxygen atom. This ensures the correct depiction of the electron configuration for formaldehyde.
**Diagram Explanation:**
The graphical interface displayed in the image above contains several tools for drawing molecular structures, such as:
- Tools for adding bonds (single, double, triple) and lone pairs
- Erasers and undo buttons for corrections
- Various options to modify and adjust the molecule's structure.
This interface helps you build an accurate Lewis structure by providing visual guides and ensuring all atoms and electrons are accounted for in the molecule. Ensure to utilize these tools to create a structured and systematic representation of the formaldehyde molecule including all specified details.
If you need further assistance with the drawing, please refer to the](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2Fd32c0099-d35b-45af-b7af-24c06e9e82b9%2Fff9a5074-664d-4826-90e1-bc396d6fc80f%2Fr7se49t_processed.png&w=3840&q=75)
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps with 1 images
