Covalent Bonding (Molecules)

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C

H

H

H

Cl

Add up available valence electrons:

C = 4, H = (3)(1), Cl = 7 Total = 14

Join peripheral atoms

to the central atom with electron pairs.

Complete octets on

atoms other than hydrogen with remaining electrons

Make carbon the central atom (it wants the most bonds, 4)

Slide 10

Bond Length and Bond Energy

Slide 11

Resonance

Occurs when more than one valid Lewis structure can be written for a particular molecule.

These are resonance structures.

The actual structure is an average of

the resonance structures.

Slide 12

Resonance in Benzene, C6H6