Covalent Bonding Practice Quiz

Single Bonds & Lewis Structures

Quick Reference - Valence Electrons by Group:
  • H = 1 valence e⁻, needs 1 more (wants 2 total)
  • C (Group 14) = 4 valence e⁻, needs 4 more
  • N (Group 15) = 5 valence e⁻, needs 3 more
  • O, S (Group 16) = 6 valence e⁻, needs 2 more
  • F, Cl, Br, I (Group 17) = 7 valence e⁻, needs 1 more

Section A Simple Molecules

Problem 1: Methane (CH4)

Draw the Lewis structure for methane.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
C 1 ______ ______ ______
H 4 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • Central atom: ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 2: Water (H2O)

Draw the Lewis structure for water.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
H 2 ______ ______ ______
O 1 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • Central atom: ______
  • How many lone pairs on oxygen? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 3: Ammonia (NH3)

Draw the Lewis structure for ammonia.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
N 1 ______ ______ ______
H 3 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • Central atom: ______
  • How many lone pairs on nitrogen? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 4: Hydrogen Fluoride (HF)

Draw the Lewis structure for hydrogen fluoride.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
H 1 ______ ______ ______
F 1 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many lone pairs on fluorine? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 5: Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

Draw the Lewis structure for hydrogen sulfide.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
H 2 ______ ______ ______
S 1 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • Central atom: ______
  • How many lone pairs on sulfur? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Section B Carbon Compounds

Problem 6: Methanol (CH3OH)

Draw the Lewis structure for methanol (wood alcohol).

Hint: Carbon is bonded to 3 hydrogens and 1 oxygen. The oxygen is bonded to 1 hydrogen.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
C 1 ______ ______ ______
H 4 ______ ______ ______
O 1 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many lone pairs on oxygen? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 7: Methylamine (CH3NH2)

Draw the Lewis structure for methylamine.

Hint: Carbon is bonded to 3 hydrogens and 1 nitrogen. The nitrogen is bonded to 2 hydrogens.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
C 1 ______ ______ ______
H 5 ______ ______ ______
N 1 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many lone pairs on nitrogen? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 8: Ethane (C2H6)

Draw the Lewis structure for ethane (two carbons bonded together).

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
C 2 ______ ______ ______
H 6 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many bonds does each carbon form? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 9: Chloromethane (CH3Cl)

Draw the Lewis structure for chloromethane.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
C 1 ______ ______ ______
H 3 ______ ______ ______
Cl 1 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many lone pairs on chlorine? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 10: Dichloromethane (CH2Cl2)

Draw the Lewis structure for dichloromethane.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
C 1 ______ ______ ______
H 2 ______ ______ ______
Cl 2 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many total lone pairs in this molecule? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Section C More Compounds

Problem 11: Phosphine (PH3)

Draw the Lewis structure for phosphine.

Hint: Phosphorus behaves like nitrogen!

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
P 1 ______ ______ ______
H 3 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many lone pairs on phosphorus? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 12: Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3)

Draw the Lewis structure for nitrogen trifluoride.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
N 1 ______ ______ ______
F 3 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • Central atom: ______
  • How many lone pairs on nitrogen? ______
  • How many lone pairs on each fluorine? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 13: Oxygen Difluoride (OF2)

Draw the Lewis structure for oxygen difluoride.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
O 1 ______ ______ ______
F 2 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • Central atom: ______
  • How many lone pairs on oxygen? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 14: Silicon Tetrafluoride (SiF4)

Draw the Lewis structure for silicon tetrafluoride.

Hint: Silicon behaves like carbon!

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
Si 1 ______ ______ ______
F 4 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many lone pairs on silicon? ______
  • How many lone pairs on each fluorine? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Section D Challenge Problems

Problem 15: Ethanol (C2H5OH)

Draw the Lewis structure for ethanol (drinking alcohol).

Hint: Two carbons bonded together; one carbon has 3 H's, the other has 2 H's and is bonded to an OH group.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
C 2 ______ ______ ______
H 6 ______ ______ ______
O 1 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ + ______ = ______

Draw your Lewis structure here

Problem 16: Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)

Draw the Lewis structure for hydrogen peroxide.

Hint: The two oxygens are bonded to each other, and each oxygen is also bonded to one hydrogen.

Atom How many? Valence e⁻ each Total from this atom Bonds needed (each)
H 2 ______ ______ ______
O 2 ______ ______ ______

Total valence electrons: ______ + ______ = ______

  • How many lone pairs on each oxygen? ______
Draw your Lewis structure here

Section E Conceptual Questions

Problem 17

What is the difference between an ionic bond and a covalent bond?

Write your answer here

Problem 18

Why does carbon typically form 4 bonds while oxygen typically forms 2 bonds? Use valence electrons in your explanation.

Write your answer here

Problem 19

What is electronegativity? Explain it in your own words.

Write your answer here

Problem 20: Isomers

What are isomers? Explain in your own words.

Write your answer here

Problem 21: Isomers of C2H6O

The molecular formula C2H6O has two different isomers. Draw the Lewis structure for BOTH isomers.

Hint: In one isomer, the oxygen is at the end of the chain (alcohol). In the other, the oxygen is in the middle (ether).

Isomer 1: Ethanol (CH3CH2OH)

Oxygen at the END

Draw here

Isomer 2: Dimethyl Ether (CH3OCH3)

Oxygen in the MIDDLE

Draw here

Problem 22

Complete the table below:

Molecule Total Valence e⁻ # Single Bonds # Lone Pairs (total)
H2O
CH4
NH3
HF
H2S