CHEM 1701 – Lab 5 – Lewis & VSEPR

Chemistry I for Pre-Health Sciences (online)

____/39 marks (6% of final grade)

Rationale
The purpose of this lab is to build molecules to help visualize molecular geometry and identify VSEPR shapes.

Learning objectives
The following learning objectives are covered in this lab.
 CLO 8: Prepare for and conduct laboratory experiments to investigate scientific questions using appropriate techniques.
 LO 4.8: Draw Lewis structures for covalent compounds
 LO 4.9: Use VSEPR theory to predict the shapes of molecules

Procedure & Observations

 Be sure to review the lab in its entirety before beginning.
 Throughout the lab you are required to photograph parts of your experiment and include these photos in your final
submission.

Handing in your lab

When complete, submit your work to the appropriate folder in DC Connect under Activities  Assignments.

All materials needed throughout this lab:

 pen or pencil
 blank paper
 toothpicks (or some other small toothpick like object)
 small marshmallows (or some other small, soft object that can be pierced with a toothpick)
 small object to represent electrons (i.e. raisins, dried bean)

CHEM1701 – Lab 5: Lewis & VSEPR Page 1 of 6

Experiment – Lewis & VSEPR [35 marks]
Discovery question: Lewis structures are one way chemists can visualize the shape and structure of teeny, tiny molecules. What do the Lewis
structures look like for select atoms and molecules? How can we visualize these structures in 3-dimensions?

Materials
 pen or pencil
 blank paper
 toothpicks (or some other small toothpick like object)
 small marshmallows (or some other small, soft object that can be pierced with a toothpick)
 small object to represent electrons (i.e. raisins, dried bean)

Procedure & Observations

Complete the table below for each molecule listed. Use your toothpicks and marshmallows (or other shapes) and “lone electrons”
to build 3D VSEPR structures for each molecule. Where required, photograph your VSEPR structures and insert the images in the
spaces below.

NOTE: The table below requires the use of various symbols which may be tricky to access in Word. You can:
 type directly into the table below if you are comfortable accessing the symbols etc. in Word or
 print the table below, fill out, photograph and upload or
 recreate the table by hand, fill out, photograph and upload

CHEM1701 – Lab 5: Lewis & VSEPR Page 2 of 6

Complete the table below. A sample has been completed for you.

SAMPLE
H2O
● ●●
Lewis dot structure for each element H ● O ●●
●

Lewis structure for the molecule

TIP: the draw function in Word worked quite well here!

H = 2.1, O = 3.5
Electronegativity difference between the elements
∆EN = 3.5 – 2.1
= 1.4
Delta notation and direction of polarity for one bond in ⃗
H−O
the molecule
∂+ ∂-
TIP: the equation editor in Word worked quite well here!

Type of bond [polar or nonpolar] ∆EN 1.4 = polar

3D VSEPR structure
NOTE 1: insert photos of your marshmallow & toothpick
structures here

NOTE 2: use a small object to show the lone electrons I cheated and “borrowed” this image from the
internet because it’s a really good example. You
don’t have to color your marshmallows. The
crackers show the lone electrons.

VSEPR name bent

CHEM1701 – Lab 5: Lewis & VSEPR Page 3 of 6

[35 cells = 35 marks] Record your work here. All work must be done by you. (i.e. internet images cannot be used…)

I2 Cl2O BrCl NF3 CCl4

●● ●● ●● ●
●● ● Cl ●● ● Br ●● ●N● ●C●
Lewis dot ●● ●● ● ●
structure for ● I ●●
each element ●● ●● ●● ●● ●●
● O ●● ● Cl ●● ● F ●● ● Cl ●●
● ●● ●● ●●

Lewis structure
for the molecule

I =2.5, I = 2.5
Electronegativity Cl = 3.0, O = 3.5 Br = 2.8, Cl = 3.0 N = 3.0, F = 4.0 C = 2.5, Cl = 3.0
difference
∆EN = 2.5 – 2.5
between the ∆EN = 3.5 – 3.0 ∆EN = 3.0 – 2.8 ∆EN = 4.0 – 3.0 ∆EN = 3.0 – 2.5
elements = 0.0
= 0.5 = 0.2 = 1.0 = 0.5

Delta notation
and direction of
polarity for one I – I Cl−O
⃗ Br−Cl
⃗ N−F
⃗ C−Cl
⃗
bond in the ∂+ ∂- ∂+ ∂- ∂+ ∂- ∂+ ∂-
molecule

Type of bond
[polar or ∆EN 0.0 = non-polar ∆EN 0.5 = polar ∆EN 0.2 = polar ∆EN 1.0 = polar ∆EN 0.5 = polar
nonpolar]

CHEM1701 – Lab 5: Lewis & VSEPR Page 4 of 6

 3D VSEPR
structure

NOTE 1: insert
photos of your
marshmallow &
toothpick
structures here

NOTE 2: use a
small object to
show the lone
electrons

VSEPR name linear bent linear trigonal pyramidal tetrahedral

CHEM1701 – Lab 5: Lewis & VSEPR Page 5 of 6

Analysis [4 marks]
1. Molecule polarity is connected to how the body absorbs and excretes harmful chemicals.

 Fat molecules are non-polar and as a result, fat can absorb harmful non-polar chemicals. Molecules absorbed this way are called
“fat soluble”. This can be dangerous because the toxic chemicals will only be released once the fat tissue is broken down.
Therefore, these toxic chemicals can stay in the body for long periods of time causing toxicity.
 Water molecules are polar and will absorb polar molecules. Molecules absorbed this way are called “water soluble”. Toxic
chemicals that are water soluble can be less harmful as after the water absorbs the chemical, the water can be easily excreted (i.e. in
urine) carrying away the toxic chemicals with it.

Many of the B vitamins are polar.

a. [2 marks] Would you expect the B vitamins to be fat soluble or water soluble once in the body? Why? Comment in 1-2 sentences.

Vitamin B would be expected to be water soluble. Vitamin B would be water soluble because it is
polar and can be absorbed by water molecules.

b. [2 marks] Would you expect to see B vitamins in a urine sample? Why or why not? Comment in 1-2 sentences.

Yes, it would be expected to see vitamin B in a urine sample. You would see vitamin B in a urine
sample because as it is polar, the water molecule would absorb the vitamin B. Once absorbed the
water molecule containing the vitamin B is easily excreted (in urine).

CHEM1701 – Lab 5: Lewis & VSEPR Page 6 of 6