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Topic: Lewis Dot Structure for Ca3(PO4)2  (Read 11182 times)

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Offline NewtoAtoms

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Lewis Dot Structure for Ca3(PO4)2
« on: May 24, 2008, 11:19:59 PM »
Hello Chemists.

I am having a hard time drawing the lewis dot structure for this molecule.  I can't fully satisfy everyone's octets. 

Any suggestions or recommendations for sites on the internet or something else, which shows the Lewis Dot structure so I can reference my work and see where I am going wrong? 

Thank you so much one and all.

New to atoms


Offline Yggdrasil

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Re: Lewis Dot Structure for Ca3(PO4)2
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2008, 12:29:59 AM »
A couple things to consider:

1)  Since this compound contains both metals and nonmetals, it is an ionic compound.  So, not all of the components of the compound will be covalently bonded together.  What are the ions that form this compound?

2)  Phosphorus is in the 3rd period, meaning that it can expand its valence shell to accommodate more than 8 electrons (i.e. it is an exception to the octet rule).

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