Step 1: Find valence e- for all atoms. Add them together.
Xe:8
F:7x2=14
Total=22
Step2: Find octet e- for each atom and add them together.
Xe:10*
F:8x2=16
*Xe should get 10 electrons for its octet so that it can form 2 bonds with side atoms.
Total=26
Step3: Gives you bonding e-. Subtract step 1 total from step 2
26-22=4e-
Step 4: Find number of bonds by diving the number in step 3 by 2(because each bond is made of 2 e-)
4e-/2= 2 bond pairs
Step 5: Find the number of nonbonding (lone pairs) e-. Subtract step 3 number from step 1.
22-4= 18e-=9 lone pairs
Use information from step 4 and 5 to draw the lewis structure.
Lewis dot structure of Xef2
Alternatively a dot method can be used to draw the lewis structure.
Calculate the total valence electrons in the molecule.
Xe:8
F:7x2=14
Total=22
Put Xenon in center and arrange chlorine atoms on the sides.Arrange electrons until fluorine atoms get 8 electrons.( Xenon gets 10 electrons, which is an expanded octet)
