Draw the Lewis structure for each organic compound from its condensed structural formula. b. CH₃OCH₃

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Identify the atoms in the condensed structural formula CH₃OCH₃. There are two carbon (C) atoms, one oxygen (O) atom, and six hydrogen (H) atoms.

Determine the connectivity of the atoms. The formula suggests that the oxygen atom is between the two carbon atoms, forming a C-O-C linkage.

Draw the carbon atoms first, and connect them with a single bond to the oxygen atom: C-O-C.

Attach the hydrogen atoms to the carbon atoms. Each carbon atom in CH₃ has three hydrogen atoms attached, so add three hydrogens to each carbon.

Ensure that each atom satisfies the octet rule (or duet for hydrogen). Carbon should have four bonds, oxygen should have two bonds, and hydrogen should have one bond.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Lewis Structures

Lewis structures are diagrams that represent the bonding between atoms in a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist. They use dots to represent electrons and lines to represent bonds between atoms. Understanding how to draw Lewis structures is essential for visualizing molecular geometry and predicting reactivity.

Condensed Structural Formula

A condensed structural formula provides a shorthand way of representing the structure of a molecule, showing how atoms are connected without depicting all the bonds explicitly. For example, in CH3OCH3, the formula indicates that there are two methyl groups (CH3) connected by an oxygen atom, which is crucial for understanding the molecular structure before drawing the Lewis structure.

Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and are involved in forming bonds with other atoms. Knowing the number of valence electrons for each atom in a molecule is vital for accurately drawing Lewis structures, as it determines how atoms will bond and the overall stability of the molecule.