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What are the number of elctrons around the central atoms?
Submitted by saturdaylove123 on 31 August 2008 - 4:36am.
Draw the best Lewis structure for each molecule. Then select the number of electrons around the central atom from the list; the choices are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14 electrons. XeO2F2 HNO3 H3PO4 ClO41− H2SO4 BCl3 I just need to know the total number of electrons around the central atoms. |
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The total number of
The total number of electrons around a neutral atom equals its atomic number; these are filled according to the quantum numbers. Oxygen is 8 so there are 8 electrons; 2 completely fill the 1s level; another 2 completely fill the 2s sublevel; the remaining 4 partially fill the 2p sublevel, leaving space for another 2 electrons if they can find a positive charge to balance them out. H (atomic number 1) just happens to have such an electron and needs another electron to fill its 1s level, so if O can find 2 wandering H's it can negotiate joint custody and both parties will be happy; hence H:O:H or H2O. Carbon is 6 so it completely fills the 1s and 2s levels, with 2 in the 2p awaiting 4 more, so it can negotitate any number of arrangements, which makes life enjoyable. It can get those 4 lectrons by sharing 2 each from a friendly O atom (hence CO2 , hence O:C:O or loaning 1 each to four Cl atoms who are only 1 short of filling their 3p sublevels to be content, hence
----------------------Cl
----------------------..
-------------------Cl:C:Cl or CCl4.
----------------------..
----------------------Cl
Neon is 10 so it completely fills 2 in the 1s level, 2 in the 2s sublevel and the remaining 6 will completely fill the 2p level making Ne disinclined to look for any more electrons; hence it is monatomic and a noble gas.