Question

Draw an electron dot diagram to show the formation of each of the following compounds: magnesium chloride [H = 1, C = 6, Mg = 12, Cl = 17]

Answer 1

Hint: To explain the formation of chemical bonding in terms of electrons, the Kossel-Lewis electron dot diagram approach was first to provide some logical explanation of valence which was based on the inertness of noble gases. Lewis postulated that atoms achieve stable octet when they are linked to chemical bonds.


Complete step by step solution:
Lewis electron dot diagram or electron dot diagram:
The representation of valence electrons of an atom using dots around the symbol of the element is known as the Lewis electron dot diagram or electron dot diagram.
The number of dots represents the valence electrons of an atom. The arrangement of dots is to the right and left, above and below the symbol of an atom.
For example, Lewis symbol or electron dot diagrams for given molecules C, Mg, Cl, and H are:

Atoms	Electronic configuration	Electron dot diagram
Magnesium (Mg)	$[Ne]3{{s}^{2}}$
Carbon (C)	$[He]2{{s}^{2}}2{{p}^{2}}$
Chloride (Cl)	$[Ne]3{{s}^{2}}3{{p}^{5}}$
Hydrogen (H)	1s

This electron dot diagram also used to determine the formation of cations or anions

Formation of the ionic compound using electron dot diagram

Note: The limitations of the electron dot diagram do not attempt to explain the geometry of molecules and show only the net charge on the ion rather than all of the formal charges. This concept fails to explain the structure of the covalent bonds and not explain the release of energy during the structure of a covalent bond.