Question

Does a Lewis structure tell which electrons come from which atoms? Explain.

Short answer

No, a Lewis structure does not tell which electrons come from which atoms. It mainly represents the bonding and electron distribution around the atoms to satisfy the octet or duet rule for each atom, without specifying the electron's origin.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Lewis Structures

To answer this question, let's first understand what Lewis structures are and what information they provide. Lewis structures are used to represent chemical species, including individual atoms, ions, and molecules, by showing the valence electrons involved in bonding or as lone pairs. In Lewis structures, shared electron pairs are shown as lines connecting atoms, and unshared electron pairs (lone pairs) are represented as small dots around the atoms.

Analyzing Electron Distribution in Lewis Structures

When drawing a Lewis structure, the goal is to distribute electrons in such a way that each atom has a stable configuration, which usually corresponds to a complete octet for most elements (except for Hydrogen, which only needs a duet). This stable configuration is achieved through the sharing or transferring of electrons. However, when two atoms share electrons, the Lewis structure does not specify which electrons come from which atom. Instead, the shared electrons are depicted as a bond between the atoms.

Electron Origin in Lewis Structures

When we draw a Lewis structure, we do not consider from which atom the electrons come from. We focus on the bonding and arrangement of the electrons around the atoms to satisfy the octet rule or the duet rule for Hydrogen. Therefore, the Lewis structures do not specify from which atom the electrons come from. In conclusion,

Does Lewis Structure Tell Which Electrons Come from Which Atoms?

No, a Lewis structure does not tell which electrons come from which atoms. Instead, it provides information about the bonding and electron distribution around the atoms to satisfy the octet or duet rule for each atom.