Question

When determining the shape of a molecule, it is important to draw a lewis dot structure first in order to see the total number of _____. answers?

Answer 1

Answer : The correct answer is, Valence electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

Lewis-dot structure : It is also known as electron-dot structure. It shows the bonding between the atoms of a molecule. it also shows the unpaired electrons present in the molecule.

When we are determining the shape of a molecule then it is important to draw a Lewis-dot structure and for drawing a Lewis-dot structure we should know that how many total number of valance electrons present in a given compound or a molecule.

For example :

The given molecule is,
`TeCl_4`

As we know that tellurium has '6' valence electrons and chlorine has '7' valence electron.

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons in
`TeCl_4` = 6 + 4(7) = 34

In
`TeCl_4`, one-one electron of 4 chlorine combine with 4 electrons of tellurium and 2 pair electrons of tellurium left as a lone pair. That means, it has 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pairs. So, the hybridization will be,
`sp^3d`

Answer 2

Lewis dot structure is like a qualitative representation which shows bonding between atoms in a molecule in addition to depicting the lone pairs of electrons if any, in the atoms that come together to bond. It is important to note that it is the valence electrons or the outermost electrons that participate in bonding.

Thus, when determining the shape of a molecule, it is important to draw a lewis dot structure first in order to see the total number of valence electrons.