Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

1. A Review of General Chemistry

Bonding Preferences

Organic Chemistry

1. A Review of General Chemistry

Bonding Preferences

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2:51 minutes

Problem 4c

Textbook Question

How many valence shell electrons do each of the following elements contain? How many new bonds can each form?
(c) O

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Determine the group number of oxygen in the periodic table. Oxygen is in Group 16 (or Group VI A in older notations). Elements in this group have 6 valence electrons.

Step 2: Recall that the number of valence electrons corresponds to the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom. For oxygen, this is 6 valence electrons.

Step 3: To determine how many new bonds oxygen can form, consider the octet rule. Atoms tend to form bonds to achieve a full outer shell of 8 electrons.

Step 4: Subtract the number of valence electrons from 8 to find the number of electrons oxygen needs to complete its octet. For oxygen, 8 - 6 = 2 electrons are needed.

Step 5: Conclude that oxygen can form 2 new bonds, as it needs 2 more electrons to complete its octet. These bonds can be single or part of a double bond, depending on the molecule.

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Key Concepts

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

Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom and are crucial for determining how an element interacts and bonds with others. For oxygen (O), which is in group 16 of the periodic table, there are six valence electrons. These electrons are involved in chemical bonding, influencing the element's reactivity and the types of bonds it can form.

Covalent Bonds

Covalent bonds are formed when two atoms share pairs of electrons, allowing them to achieve a full outer shell and greater stability. Oxygen typically forms two covalent bonds by sharing its six valence electrons with other atoms, such as hydrogen in water (H2O). This ability to form bonds is essential for understanding molecular structures and reactivity.

Octet Rule

The octet rule states that atoms tend to form bonds in such a way that they have eight electrons in their valence shell, achieving a stable electron configuration similar to noble gases. For oxygen, which has six valence electrons, forming two bonds allows it to complete its octet, making it more stable. This principle is fundamental in predicting how elements will bond and interact in chemical reactions.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Which of the atoms in the molecular models in [Problem 20] have

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a. three lone pairs?

b. two lone pairs?

c. one lone pair?

d. no lone pairs?

Textbook Question

a. Find potassium (K) in the periodic table and predict how many valence electrons it has.

b. What orbital does the unpaired electron occupy?

Textbook Question

Look at the relative positions of each pair of atoms listed here in the periodic table. How many core electrons does each have? How many valence electrons does each have?

a. carbon and silicon

b. oxygen and sulfur

Textbook Question

How many valence electrons do the following atoms have?

a. boron

b. nitrogen

Textbook Question

How many valence shell electrons do each of the following elements contain? How many new bonds can each form?

(b) N

Textbook Question

How many valence shell electrons do each of the following elements contain? How many new bonds can each form?

(a) C