Bonding and Structure: Limitations of Bonding Diagrams

Question 1

Advantage(s) of dot and cross diagrams.

Answer 1

• clearly shows where the electrons are coming from

Question 2

Disadvantage(s) of dot and cross diagram.

Answer 2

• doesn’t show the shape of the molecule in 3D

Question 3

Disadvantage(s) of a stick diagram (displayed formula?).

Answer 3

• cant tell which electron in the covalent bond came from which atom
• doesn’t show outer electrons that are not in bonds
• doesn’t give accurate information about the shape of the molecule

Question 4

Advantage(s) of a 3D stick diagram.

Answer 4

• shows the shape of the molecule

Question 5

Disadvantage(s) of 3D stick diagram.

Answer 5

• cant tell which electron in the covalent bond came from which electron
• doesn’t show outer electrons that are not in bonds

Question 6

Advantage(s) of a ball and stick diagram.

Answer 6

• clearly shows ions in 3D

Question 7

Disadvantage(s) of ball and stick diagram.

Answer 7

• only shows a tiny part of giant lattice
• shows ions as wifely spaced (in reality, they are packed together)

Question 8

Advantage(s) of a space filling diagram.

Answer 8

• shows how close ions are

Question 9

Disadvantage(s) of a space filling diagram.

Answer 9

• difficult to see
• only shows a tiny part of the giant ionic lattice