The Lewis Dot Structure rule states that S=N-A. Recall that N represents the TOTAL number of valence electrons that all the atoms in a molecule will have once they achieve an octet. What is N for silicon tetrachloride, SiCl4? Enter
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![**Understanding the Lewis Dot Structure Rule**
The Lewis Dot Structure rule states that:
\[ S = N - A \]
Here,
- **N** represents the TOTAL number of valence electrons that all the atoms in a molecule will have once they achieve an octet.
- **A** represents the number of valence electrons currently in the molecule.
- **S** represents the shared electrons required to complete the octets.
**Example: Calculating N for Silicon Tetrachloride (SiCl₄)**
Given:
\[ \text{Chemical formula: } \text{SiCl}_4 \]
**Step-by-Step Calculation:**
1. Determine the valence electrons for each atom:
- Silicon (Si) is in Group 14 and has 4 valence electrons.
- Chlorine (Cl) is in Group 17 and has 7 valence electrons.
2. Calculate the total valence electrons needed for an octet:
- Si needs 8 electrons to complete its octet.
- Each Cl needs 8 electrons to complete its octet. Since there are 4 Cl atoms, the total for Cl is \( 4 \times 8 = 32 \) electrons.
3. Sum them up to find **N**:
\[ N = 8 (\text{for Si}) + 32 (\text{for 4 Cl atoms}) = 40 \]
**Interactive Prompt:**
On the screen, there is an input box where users can enter the total number of valence electrons (N) for silicon tetrachloride, SiCl₄.
**Educational Context:**
This calculation is useful for students learning about Lewis Dot Structures, helping them practice determining the total number of valence electrons needed for a molecule to achieve stability according to the octet rule.
Note: Make sure to use the keyboard to enter the value and then click "Enter" to proceed. The right side of the screen also has options to access "Help" and "Review" for additional assistance.](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F66c912c6-a327-4873-9511-a364c6ae7474%2F39a384cd-0231-481f-80ad-3f437790859b%2Fw4q5z_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
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