1. How to Draw Lewis Structures

2. Valence Electrons
Valence electrons are the electrons in the highest (outermost) occupied energy level of the atom.
Valence electrons are the only electrons generally involved in bond formation.

3. Octet Rule
All atoms, except for Hydrogen and Helium, want 8 valence electrons in their outer shell to be stable.
This is called the octet rule
An atom can have a maximum of 8 valence electrons
Hydrogen an Helium can only have a maximum of two valence electrons in their outer shells.

4. Lewis Dot Structures
Gilbert Lewis came up with the idea of electron dot diagrams, or Lewis Dot structures
These diagrams represent an atom’s number of valence electrons
It also shows us how many paired and unpaired valence electrons an atom has
Lewis Dot structures help us figure out how elements bond

5. Lewis Structures Find your element on the periodic table.
Determine the number of valence electrons.
This is how many electrons you will draw.

6. Lewis Structures Find out which group (column) your element is in.
This will tell you the number of valence electrons your element has.
You will only draw the valence electrons.

7. Groups - Review Group 8 = 8 electrons Group 1 = 1 electron
Except for He, it has 2 electrons
Group 2 = 2 electrons
Each column is called a “group”
3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Each element in a group has the same number of electrons in their outer orbital, also known as “shells”.
The electrons in the outer shell are called “valence electrons”

8. C Lewis Structures Write the element symbol.
Carbon is in the 4th group, so it has 4 valence electrons.
Starting at the right, draw 4 electrons, or dots, clockwise around the element symbol. C

9. C Lewis Structures Check your work.
Using your periodic table, check that Carbon is in the 4th group.
You should have 4 total electrons, or dots, drawn in for Carbon. C

10. C Lewis Structures On your worksheet, try these elements on your own:P Ca Ar Cl Al C

11. H Lewis Structures On your worksheet, try these elements on your own:P Ca Ar Cl Al H

12. P Lewis Structures On your worksheet, try these elements on your own:Ca Ar Cl Al P

13. Ca Lewis Structures On your worksheet, try these elements on your own:P Ca Ar Cl Al Ca

14. Ar Lewis Structures On your worksheet, try these elements on your own:P Ca Ar Cl Al Ar

15. Cl Lewis Structures On your worksheet, try these elements on your own:P Ca Ar Cl Al Cl

16. Al Lewis Structures On your worksheet, try these elements on your own:P Ca Ar Cl Al Al

17. Elements in the same group have the same Lewis Dot Structure

18. Electron Dot Structure or Lewis Dot Diagram
A notation showing the valence electrons surrounding the atomic symbol.

19. End of Study Guide.
Complete the Lewis Structure Worksheet You should know how to draw Lewis Structures for the first 54 elements (except the transition metals).