Identify the true statement about Lewis structures.
Select all the correct answers.
1. Hydrogen is usually surrounded by 4 electrons in a valid Lewis structure.
2. A single bond in a Lewis structure represents 2 electrons.
3. A double bond in a Lewis structure represents 2 electrons.
4. Only one valid Lewis structure may be written for a given molecule.
5. Every atom in a Lewis structure must have an octet of electrons for the structure to be valid.
i think 2 is true..
I think the correct answer is 2, also, although I don't agree with the wording. I would rather it say "2 electrons in a Lewis structure represents a single bond).
Actually, statement number 2 is incorrect. A single bond in a Lewis structure represents 2 electrons, so statement number 2 is true. However, it is not the only correct answer. Let's go through each statement to determine which ones are true:
1. Hydrogen is usually surrounded by 4 electrons in a valid Lewis structure: This statement is false. Hydrogen only needs 2 electrons to have a full outer shell, so it is usually surrounded by just 2 electrons in a Lewis structure.
2. A single bond in a Lewis structure represents 2 electrons: This statement is true. In a Lewis structure, a single bond is represented by a straight line between two atoms, and it signifies that 2 electrons are being shared between those atoms.
3. A double bond in a Lewis structure represents 2 electrons: This statement is also true. In a Lewis structure, a double bond is represented by two parallel lines between two atoms, indicating the sharing of 4 electrons.
4. Only one valid Lewis structure may be written for a given molecule: This statement is false. For many molecules, multiple valid Lewis structures can be written depending on how the electrons are arranged. This is particularly common in molecules with resonance structures.
5. Every atom in a Lewis structure must have an octet of electrons for the structure to be valid: This statement is generally true, except for some cases involving certain elements that can have an expanded octet (such as sulfur and phosphorus) or elements with fewer than 8 electrons (such as hydrogen and helium).
So, the correct statements are numbers 2, 3, and 5.
Actually, statement 2 is not true. A single bond in a Lewis structure represents 2 electrons. The correct statement is statement 3. A double bond in a Lewis structure represents 2 electrons. So the true statements about Lewis structures are:
3. A double bond in a Lewis structure represents 2 electrons.
5. Every atom in a Lewis structure must have an octet of electrons for the structure to be valid.