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SIMPLY-The element Oxygen can either capture two electrons or share two elect

so just for the more techy side......ns.

The Electron Structure of Oxygen

Oxygen atoms have 8 protons and therefore 8 electrons in their neutral state. If we follow the subshell filling guide for elements, we end up with this: 1s2 2s2 2p4. This tells us that Oxygen has two shells of electrons. The first is holds only two electrons and is completely filled. The second contains six electrons, with space for another two electrons to make the full complement of 8 which is necessary for stability. As these outer shell electrons are arranged in pairs, we get the electron dot diagram for Oxygen as shown to the left. We can see from this that Oxygen will want to either capture two electrons or share two electrons to achieve stability.

We can see a more detailed image of the electron structure of the Oxygen element below. Subshells are indicated by the black horizontal lines. The numbers in brackets show the maximum number of electrons that can be placed in that subshell is the number given in brackets.

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Q: How many lone pairs of electrons exist on the central atom in oxygen O?
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What is the definition of lone pairs of electrons?

The lone pair electron region is the place around the central atom where electrons not bonding with another atom can be found. A lone pair of electrons are electrons that are not bonded with other atoms.


What causes water molecules to have a bent shape according to VSEPR threory?

Repulsion of the unshared electron pairs (2)and the bonded pairs (2) around the central oxygen atom. Repulsion of these 4 electron pairs attempts to form a tetrahedral shape. Describing the molecular shape, we ignore the unshared electrons and just describe the shape of the molecule based on the location of the atoms, thus bent.


How many lone pairs of electrons are there in the ClO3- ion?

Chlorine (nucleus) has 1 lone pair and 3 polar-covalent bonding pairs (the shared pairs with O). Each oxygen (nucleus) has 3 lone pairs and 1 polar-covalent bonding pair (the shared pair with Cl)


What is the molcular geometry of NH4?

The molecular geometry of NH4+ is tetrahedral. This is because NH4+ has four bonding regions (four hydrogen atoms bonding with the central nitrogen atom) and no lone pairs of electrons on the central nitrogen atom.


What is the electron-domain geometry of XeF4?

Remember, the geometry of a molecule has to do with how many electron pairs AND lone pairs there are around the CENTRAL atom. Basically, count up the lines and the pairs of dots. Notice that 'Xe' has 8 electrons in its valence shell, and 'F' has only 7. When we put 4 'F' atoms around 1 'Xe' atom, each Flourine atom is going to want to 'share' one of Xenon's electrons so that it can have 8 electrons. Also remember that when an atom shares electrons, it shares in pairs. Each shared bond has 2 electrons. Now count up the number of electron PAIRS around the CENTRAL atom. We have 4 bonds (one with each Fluorine atom), and 2 lone pairs of of electrons bringing our count up to 12 electrons around Xenon, or 6 pairs total. (This violates the 'Octet Rule', but it's ok in this situation) Here is a list of geometries according to the number of Electron Domains: 2 'ED's (electron domains) = Linear shape 3 'ED's = Trigonal Planar 4 'ED's = Tetrahedral 5 'ED's = Trigonal Bi-pyramid 6 'ED's = Octahedral The electron-domain geometry of XeF4 would be Octahedral. Hope this helped!

Related questions

How many lone pairs of electrons exist on the central atom in ammonia NH3?

There is one lone pair of electrons on the central nitrogen atom in ammonia (NH3).


What do electrons exist as?

Electrons exist as pairs. Although, electrons hate each other, and only go as pairs as a last resort.


How many lone pairs are around the central atom in H2O?

H-O-H Well, the hydrogens bring a total of two valance electrons to the mix and the oxygen contributes six, so the total valance electrons = 8 4 are used in the two bonds, so 8 - 4 = 4 Two lone pair, one above and one below the oxygen in the Lewis dot structure.


How many lone pairs of electrons in a oxygen molecule?

In an oxygen molecule (O2), each oxygen atom has 3 lone pairs of electrons.


How many non bonding pairs does oxygen have?

Oxygen has two non-bonding pairs of electrons.


What is the name given to the pairs of valence electrons that do not participate in bonding ina diatomic oxygen molecules?

The pairs of valence electrons that do not participate in bonding in a diatomic oxygen molecule are called lone pairs. These pairs of electrons are not involved in forming the double bond between the oxygen atoms in O2.


How many bonding pairs of electrons are there in water?

There are four electrons, which is two pair.


How many lone pair electrons are in CO2?

There are no lone pair electrons on the central carbon atom in CO2. Each oxygen atom forms a double bond with the carbon, utilizing all of its valence electrons for bonding.


How many paire of electrons do the two oxygen atoms in an oxygen molecule share with each other?

They share two pairs of electrons and have 2 lone pairs


How many lone pairs of electrons exist on the central atom in carbon CH4?

In methane (CH4), the central carbon atom does not have any lone pairs of electrons. Instead, it forms four single covalent bonds with the four hydrogen atoms around it.


How many lone pair electrons are in ch2o?

There are two lone pair electrons in CH2O. The oxygen atom in CH2O has two lone pairs of electrons surrounding it.


How many lone pairs of electrons exist on the central atom in ammonia?

There is one lone pair of electrons on the central atom (nitrogen) in ammonia.