Inquiry Activity: Drawing Lewis Structures for Compounds

Valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that are involved in forming bonds with other atoms.

Chlorine has 7 valence electrons.

It indicates that aluminum has lost 3 electrons.

A covalent bond is a chemical bond formed when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons.

There are three bonding pairs in a triple bond.

A Lewis structure visually represents the valence electrons and bonding in a molecule.

Lewis structures provide a clearer representation of valence electrons involved in bonding.

The octet rule states that atoms tend to form bonds until they are surrounded by eight valence electrons.

A lone pair of electrons is a pair of valence electrons that are not shared with another atom.

The nucleus contains protons and neutrons and is the center of an atom, determining its mass and identity.