Lewis Structures|Dot Structures – Drawn for phosgene (COCl2)

Lewis dot structures of phosgene COCl₂

 

A simple procedure for writing Lewis Dot Structures was given in a previous post entitled “Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule”.  Several worked examples relevant to this procedure were given in previous posts please see the Sitemap - Table of Contents (Lewis Electron Dot Structures).

Let us consider the case of the Lewis dot structures of phosgene COCl₂.

Step 1:  The central atom will be the C atom since it is the less electronegative. Connect the atoms with single bonds:

 

 

Step 2: Calculate the # of electrons in π bonds (pi bonds, multiple bonds) using formula (1) in the article entitled “Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule”.  Where n in this case is 4 since COCl₂ consists of four atoms.

Where V = (4 + 6 + 7 + 7) = 24  

Therefore, P = 6n + 2 – V = 6 * 4 + 2 – 24 = 2   There are 2 π electrons (pi electrons) in COCl₂  and so 1 double bond must be added to the structure of Step 1.

 

Step 3 & 4: One double bond must therefore be placed to the structure in Step 1. Therefore, the dot resonance structures of COCl₂ (Lewis structures of COCl₂)  are as follows:

 

 

Lewis dot structure #2 is the more probable (most stable) since there is no charge separation.

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Relevant Posts

Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule - A simple method to write Lewis Structures

Simple Method for writing the Lewis Structures of carbon disulfide CS₂

 

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References

1. G.N. Lewis, J.A.C.S, 38, 762-785, (1916)
2.  E. C. McGoran, J. Chem. Educ., 68, 19-23 (1991)
3. A.B.P. Lever, J. Chem. Educ., 49, 819-821, (1972)

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Key Terms

simple method for drawing Lewis structures, Lewis structures of COCl₂, Lewis electron dot structures of COCl₂, dot structures of COCl₂,

 

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