Final answer:
The Lewis structure of sodium ethoxide (CH3CH2ONa) includes an ethoxide ion with covalent bonds within the organic moiety and an ionic bond between the ethoxide ion and sodium ion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked to draw the Lewis structure of sodium ethoxide (CH3CH2ONa), explaining the representation of ionic and covalent bonds within the molecule. Sodium ethoxide is an organic compound composed of an ethoxide ion (CH3CH2O-) and a sodium ion (Na+). The ethoxide ion has a negative charge due to the additional electron it carries, which is balanced out by the positive charge of the sodium ion, thus maintaining the overall neutrality of the compound.
To draw its Lewis structure, begin by sketching the ethoxide ion with a single pair of electrons on the oxygen atom, connecting it to the ethyl group (CH3CH2) through a single covalent bond. All hydrogen atoms should be explicitly shown, bonded to the carbon atoms. Next, draw the sodium ion separately, indicating its positive charge. It's crucial to correctly depict this as an ionic bond between the negatively charged oxygen of the ethoxide ion and the positively charged sodium ion.
Remember, sodium ethoxide contains ionic bonds due to the metal (sodium) and nonmetal (ethoxide) interaction, and covalent bonds within the organic ethoxide moiety. The covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms, while ionic bonds involve the complete transfer of electrons from one atom to another, leading to oppositely charged ions that are electrostatically attracted to each other.