1)Identify the atoms that are participating in a covalent bond.
2)Draw each atom by using its element symbol. The number of valence electrons is shown by placing up to two dots on each side of the element symbol, with each dot representing a single valence electron.
3)Predict the number of covalent bonds each atom will make using the octet rule.
4)Draw the bonding atoms next to each other, showing a single covalent bond as either a pair of dots or a line representing a shared valence electron pair. If the molecule forms a double or triple bond, use two or three lines to represent the shared electron pairs, respectively.