Step 1: Find valence e- for all atoms. Add them together.
Be:2
F:7x2=14
Total=16
Step2: Find octet e- for each atom and add them together.
Be:4*
F:8x2=16
Total=20
*Beryllium is exception to octet rule and get 4 electrons instead of 8.
Step3: Gives you bonding e-. Subtract step 1 total from step 2
20-16=4e-
Step 4: Find number of bonds by diving the number in step 3 by 2(because each bond is made of 2 e-)
4e-/2= 2 bond pairs
Step 5: Find the number of nonbonding (lone pairs) e-. Subtract step 3 number from step 1.
16-4= 12e-=6 lone pairs
Use information from step 4 and 5 to draw the lewis structure.
Beryllium goes in the centre.Make sure both fluorines get 8 electron.
Lone pairs are in green. Bond pairs are in purple.

Lewis dot structure of BeF2
Alternatively a dot method can be used to draw the lewis structure of BF3.
Calculate the total valence electrons in BF3 molecule.
Be:2
F:7x2=14
Total=16
Put beryllium in the center and fluorines on the sides.
Put a pair of electrons connecting the side atom with central atom.Put remaining electrons on the side atoms.Beryllium octer state is 4 electrons, so try to move the electrons to from fluprine to make it 8 for beryllium.
"Rate This article
![]() |


