Question

A student made the Lewis dot diagram of a compound as shown.

Mg is written with two dots shown on its top. An O is written on each side of Mg. Each O has six dots around it. An arrow is shown from one dot on Mg toward the vacant space around the O on the right. Another arrow is shown from the other dot on Mg toward the vacant space around the O on the left.

What is the error in the Lewis dot diagram?

Answer 1

• Number of dots around Mg must be 4

Step-by-step explanation:

Atomic number of Oxygen (O) is 8

Electronic configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁴

Here, Oxygen has 6 electrons in the outermost shell and has six dots around it

Thus, oxygen need 2 electrons in both the sides

To complete the structure, oxygen need 2 electrons In both the sides left and right.

Mg with 2 valence electrons can not share both the electrons with Oxygen to form ionic bond.

Hence, Mg must be written with four dots

If Mg is written with 4 dots then Mg will loses 4 electrons and oxygen will gain two electrons in both the sides to complete their compound.