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QuestionChemistry

What is the Lewis structure for methanol?
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Answer

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Step 1:
I'll solve this problem step by step, following the specified LaTeX formatting guidelines:

Step 2:
: Identify the atoms in methanol

- Methanol ($$CH_{3}OH$$) consists of:
* 1 carbon (C) * 4 hydrogen (H) atoms * 1 oxygen (O) atom

Step 3:
: Determine the total number of valence electrons

- Total valence electrons: $$4 + (4 \times 1) + 6 = 14$$ electrons
- Carbon: 4 valence electrons - Hydrogen: 1 valence electron each (×4) - Oxygen: 6 valence electrons

Step 4:
: Arrange the atoms

- Place carbon in the center - Attach hydrogens to carbon - Place oxygen bonded to carbon with a hydroxyl group

Step 5:
: Draw the Lewis structure

- Single bonds between C-H - Single bond between C-O - Lone pairs on oxygen Final Lewis Structure: \begin{array}{c} \text{H} \ \quad \mid \ \text{H} - \text{C} - \text{O} - \text{H} \ \quad \mid \ \text{H} \end{array}

Final Answer

The Lewis structure for methanol shows a central carbon with four single bonds (three to hydrogen, one to oxygen), with the oxygen having two lone pairs and bonded to a hydrogen.