1. 8th Grade Science Mrs. Wach
How to Draw Lewis Structures:
Electron Dot Diagrams
8th Grade Science
Mrs. Wach

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

3. Lewis Structures Determine the element’s group (column) number.
This indicates the number of valence electrons the element has.
You will only draw the valence electrons.

4. Reviewing Groups Group 8 = 8 electrons Group 1 = 1 electron
Except for He, it has 2 electrons
Group 2 = 2 electrons
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”
3, 4, 5, 6, 7

5. C Lewis Structures Write the element symbol.
Carbon is in the 4th group, so it has 4 valence electrons.
The number of dots MUST equal the number of valence electrons.
The dots are generally arranged Right, Left, Top Bottom. But, it does not matter what order the positions are used. C

6. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. End of Study Guide.
Complete the Lewis Structure Worksheet You should know how to draw Lewis Structures for the first 20 elements.