Lewis structure of BeH2

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The Lewis structure of BeH₂ contains two single bonds, with beryllium in the center, and two hydrogens on either side. There are no lone pairs on both the beryllium atom and hydrogen atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of BeH₂.

#1 Draw skeleton
#2 Show chemical bond
#3 Calculate formal charge and check stability (if there are no lone pairs and octet is already completed on central atom)

Let’s one by one discuss each step in detail.

#1 Draw skeleton

In this step, first calculate the total number of valence electrons. And then, decide the central atom.

• Let’s calculate the total number of valence electrons

We know that… beryllium is a group 2 element and hydrogen is a group 1 element. Hence, beryllium has two valence electrons and hydrogen has one valence electron.

Now BeH₂ has one beryllium atom and two hydrogen atoms.

So the total number of valence electrons = valence electrons of beryllium atom + (valence electrons of hydrogen atom × 2)

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 2 + 2 = 4

• Now decide the central atom

We can not assume hydrogen as the central atom, because the central atom is bonded with at least two other atoms. And hydrogen has only one electron in its last shell, so it can not make more than one bond.

Hence, assume that beryllium is the central atom.

So now, put beryllium in the center and hydrogens on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of BeH₂ something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of AlCl₃ (4 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

Place two electrons between the atoms to show a chemical bond. Since beryllium is surrounded by two hydrogens, use four electrons to show two chemical bonds as follows:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on outside atoms. But, the central atom (beryllium) doesn’t form an octet.

Now beryllium has an exception in BeH₂, that it does not require eight electrons to complete its octet.

So one last thing we need to do is, calculate the formal charge and check the stability of the above structure.

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of CH₂F₂ (4 steps)

#3 Calculate formal charge and check stability

The following formula is used to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

Formal charge = valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons

Collect the data from the above structure and then, write it down below as follows:

• For beryllium atom

Valence electrons = 2
Nonbonding electrons = 0
Bonding electrons = 4

Formal charge = 2 – 0 – ½ (4) = 0

• For each hydrogen atom

Valence electrons = 1
Nonbonding electrons = 0
Bonding electrons = 2

Formal charge = 1 – 0 – ½ (2) = 0

Mention the formal charges of atoms on the structure. So the Lewis structure of BeH₂ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both (beryllium and hydrogen) are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of BeH₂.

And each horizontal line drawn in the above structure represents a pair of bonding valence electrons.

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Related

• Lewis structure of AlCl₃
• Lewis structure of CH₂F₂
• Lewis structure of CH₃^–
• Lewis structure of NH₂^–
• Lewis structure of acetone

External video

• BeH2 Lewis Structure – How to Draw the Lewis Structure for BeH2 – YouTube • Wayne Breslyn

External links

• BeH2 Lewis Structure, Molecular Geometry, Hybridization, and Polarity – Techiescientist
• Chemical Bonding: BeH2 Lewis Structure – The Geoexchange
• BeH2 Lewis Structure in 6 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• BeH2 Lewis Structure, Hybridization, Molecular Geometry, and Bond Angles – Geometry of Molecules
• Draw the Lewis structures for BeH2 and determine whether or not it satisfies the octet rule – Homework.Study.com
• BeH2 Lewis Structure (Beryllium Hydride) – Pinterest
• How to draw BeH2 Lewis Structure? – Science Education and Tutorials
• Lewis Dot of Beryllium Hydride BeH2 – Kent’s Chemistry
• Draw the Lewis structure for beryllium hydride, BeH2 – Chegg
• Which is the correct Lewis dot structure for BeH2 – Brainly
• Lewis structure of BeH2? – Answers