Dot & Cross Diagrams (AQA AS Chemistry) : Revision Note

Stewart Hird

Last updated

Representing Dot & Cross Diagrams

  • Dot and cross diagrams are diagrams that show the arrangement of the outer-shell electrons in an ionic or covalent compound or element

    • The electrons are shown as dots and crosses

  • In a dot and cross diagram:

    • Only the outer electrons are shown

    • The charge of the ion is spread evenly which is shown by using brackets

    • The charge on each ion is written at the top right-hand corner

Ionic compounds

  • Ionic bonds are formed when metal atoms transfer electrons to a non-metal to form a positively charged and negatively charged ion

  • The atoms achieve a noble gas configuration

Chemical Bonding Ionic Dot & Cross, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

Dot-and-cross diagrams of ionic compounds in which one of the atoms transfers their valence electrons to the other

Covalent compounds

  • The atoms in covalent compounds will share their outer valence electrons to achieve a noble gas configuration

Chemical Bonding Covalent Dot & Cross 1, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes
Chemical Bonding Covalent Dot & Cross 2 (1), downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes
Chemical Bonding Covalent Dot & Cross 2 (2), downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes
Chemical Bonding Covalent Dot & Cross 3 (1), downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes

 

Dot-and-cross diagrams of covalent compounds in which the atoms share their valence electrons

Worked Example

Draw a dot and cross diagram for lithium nitride

Answer

  • Lithium is a Group 1 metal, so it loses its 1 electron from its outer shell

  • This forms a Li+ ion

  • Nitrogen is a Group 5 non-metal, so it needs to gain 3 electrons to complete its outer shell

  • This forms an N3- ion

  • Overall, three lithium atoms each donate an electron to one nitrogen atom, to form 3 x Li+ ions and 1 x N3-

  • The overall ionic compound formed is Li3N

Chemical Bonding Lithium Nitride Cross Diagram, downloadable AS & A Level Chemistry revision notes
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Stewart Hird

Author: Stewart Hird

Expertise: Chemistry Lead

Stewart has been an enthusiastic GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and IB teacher for more than 30 years in the UK as well as overseas, and has also been an examiner for IB and A Level. As a long-standing Head of Science, Stewart brings a wealth of experience to creating Topic Questions and revision materials for Save My Exams. Stewart specialises in Chemistry, but has also taught Physics and Environmental Systems and Societies.

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