Limitations Of Bonding Diagrams

Question 1

What are the advantages of dot and cross diagrams ?

Answer 1

Use dots to represent the election on one atoms and cross to represent the electrons on another atom
It is very clear where the electrons are coming from

Question 2

What is the limitation of dot and cross daigrams ?

Answer 2

Do not tell us about the shape of the molecule

Question 3

What is the problem with stick diagrams ?

Answer 3

Because a covalent bond is shown as a stick we cannot tell which electrons in the bond came from which atom
Also give us no idea of outer electrons that are no in the bounds

Question 4

What is another limitstion of stick diagrams ?

Answer 4

2 dimensional meaning they don’t give us accurate information on the shape of the molecule

Question 5

What is the benefit of a 3 dimensional stick diagram ?

Answer 5

Shows us the shape of the molecule

Question 6

What is the benefit of a ball and stick diagram ( used to show giant covalent structures)

Answer 6

See the ions in 3 dimensions

Question 7

What is a limitation of hall and stick diagrams ?

Answer 7

The ions are shown as widely spaced when in reality the ions are packed together

Question 8

What are the benefits of a space filling diagrams ?

Answer 8

Give us a better idea of how closely pack the ions are

Question 9

What is the limitation of space filling diagrams?

Answer 9

It can be difficult to see the three dimensional packing with a space filling diagram

Question 10

What is the one big problem with ball and stick diagrams and space filling diagrams ?

Answer 10

They only show a tiny part of the giant crystal lattice
So both these diagrams give the mistaken impression about the sizes of these structures