What is the Lewis Dot Structure of CH3OH

What is the Lewis Dot Structure of CH3OH?

Solution:

Steps for Drawing Lewis Dot Structure:

1. Calculate the total number of valence electrons in a molecule (group number = number of valence electrons)

2. Draw out your molecule and put lines between atoms (bonds)

3. Subtract electrons used in bonds (2 electrons per bond) from the total number of valence electrons

4. Use the remaining electrons to make outer atoms happy (octet). Keep in mind hydrogen only wants 2 electrons.

5. If there are any electrons left, place them on the central atom.

6. Check if everyone is happy(octet). If not use neighboring atom's lone pairs to make double and triple

   bonds.

   
   

Step 1: Total number of valence electrons for CH3OH = 4+1(3)+6+1 = 14 electrons

Step 2:

Step 3: There 5 bonds. We need to subtract electrons used in bonds from the total electrons. 14-(5*2) = 4 electrons left.

Step 4 and 5:

4 electrons - 4 electrons= 0 electrons left

Step 6: All the atoms are happy (oxygen and carbon have an octet= 8 electrons and hydrogens have 2 each). The correct Lewis structure must be:

Lewis Dot Structure of CH3OH

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