The Lewis dot structure for lithium fluoride (LiF) represents the arrangement of valence electrons around the lithium (Li) and fluorine (F) atoms. Here’s how it looks:
- Lithium (Li): Lithium has 1 valence electron. In the Lewis dot structure, it is represented as
Li•. - Fluorine (F): Fluorine has 7 valence electrons. In the Lewis dot structure, it is represented as
:F:with three lone pairs and one single electron.
When lithium and fluorine combine to form LiF, lithium donates its single valence electron to fluorine. This transfer of electrons results in the formation of Li+ and F– ions. The Lewis dot structure for LiF can be represented as:
Li• + :F: → Li+ + :F:-
In this structure, lithium loses its single electron to achieve a stable electron configuration, while fluorine gains an electron to complete its octet. This ionic bond between Li+ and F– forms the compound lithium fluoride (LiF).