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Chemistry Forums for Students => Organic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Sodium-Potassium Pump on September 04, 2007, 12:18:46 AM

Title: Lewis structure for (CH3)4NCl, a salt.
Post by: Sodium-Potassium Pump on September 04, 2007, 12:18:46 AM
Okay, so I've already lost all possible points on this question and it's been bugging me so I just want to know what the answer is so I can go to sleep without having o-chem nightmares.

Lewis structure for (CH3)4NCl

I drew a positive nitrogen atom in the center with 4 carbons coming off of it, each of the carbons bonded to 3 hydrogens, and the negative chloride ion off to the side.  why is this wrong? i asked a friend and he thought it was correct.

thanks for any help that can be provided.
Title: Re: Lewis structure for (CH3)4NCl, a salt.
Post by: Fry on September 04, 2007, 01:14:50 AM
That sounds right to me, you didnt add a lone pair of electrons to your diagram did you?

Draw it out for us exactly as you have it.
Title: Re: Lewis structure for (CH3)4NCl, a salt.
Post by: Sodium-Potassium Pump on September 04, 2007, 08:41:22 AM
nope

                               H
                               |
              H        H   -  C -  H    Cl-       H
              |                |                      |
         H--C ---------  N+---------------C-----H
              |                |                      |
              H          H - C - H                 H             
                                |
                                H                   
Title: Re: Lewis structure for (CH3)4NCl, a salt.
Post by: AWK on September 04, 2007, 08:47:58 AM
Draw also outermost electrons for chloride anion
Title: Re: Lewis structure for (CH3)4NCl, a salt.
Post by: Sodium-Potassium Pump on September 04, 2007, 02:39:11 PM
AHH!! Okay, I didn't have the correct number of electrons on the Cl- ion!  Doh!  Thanks for your assistance!