Lewis Structure of SiO (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!)

I’m super excited to teach you the lewis structure of SiO in just 5 simple steps.

Infact, I’ve also given the step-by-step images for drawing the lewis dot structure of SiO molecule.

So, if you are ready to go with these 5 simple steps, then let’s dive right into it!

Lewis structure of SiO contains one triple bond between the Silicon (Si) atom and Oxygen (O) atom. The Silicon atom and oxygen atom, both have one lone pair.

Let’s draw and understand this lewis dot structure step by step.

(Note: Take a pen and paper with you and try to draw this lewis structure along with me. I am sure you will definitely learn how to draw lewis structure of SiO).

5 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of SiO

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is SiO. In order to draw the lewis structure of SiO, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the SiO molecule.
(Valence electrons are the number of electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom).

So, let’s calculate this first.

Calculation of valence electrons in SiO

• For Silicon: 

Silicon is a group 14 element on the periodic table.

Hence, the valence electrons present in silicon is 4 (see below image).

• For Oxygen:

Oxygen is a group 16 element on the periodic table.

Hence, the valence electron present in oxygen is 6 (see below image).

Hence in a SiO molecule, 

Valence electrons given by Silicon (Si) atom = 4
Valence electrons given by Oxygen (O) atom = 6
So, total number of Valence electrons in SiO molecule = 4 + 6 = 10

Step #2: Select the center atom

While selecting the atom, you have to put the least electronegative atom at the center. 

But here in the SiO molecule, there are only two atoms. So you can consider any of the atoms as a center atom.

So, let’s assume that the silicon atom is a central atom. (You should assume the less electronegative atom as a central atom.)

Step #3: Put two electrons between the atoms to represent a chemical bond

Now in the above sketch of a SiO molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between the silicon atom and oxygen atoms to represent a chemical bond between them.

This pair of electrons present between the Silicon (Si) atom and Oxygen (O) atom forms a chemical bond, which bonds both the silicon atom and oxygen atom with each other in a SiO molecule.

Step #4: Complete the octet (or duplet) on outside atom. If the valence electrons are left, then put the valence electrons pair on the central atom

Don’t worry, I’ll explain!

In the Lewis structure of SiO, we have just assumed the silicon atom as a central atom and so the oxygen atom is an outer atom.

So now, we have to complete the octet on this oxygen atom.

Now, you can see in the above image that the oxygen atom forms an octet.

Also, only 8 valence electrons of SiO molecule are used in the above structure.

But there are total 10 valence electrons in SiO molecule (as calculated in step #1).

So the number of electrons left to be kept on the central atom = 10 – 8 = 2.

So let’s keep these two electrons (i.e electron pair) on the central atom (i.e silicon atom).

Now, let’s move to the next step.

Step #5: Check whether the central atom has octet or not. If it does not have an octet, then move the electron pair from the outer atom to form a double bond or triple bond

In this step, we have to check whether the central atom (i.e silicon atom) has an octet or not.

In simple words, we have to check whether this Silicon (Si) atom is having 8 electrons or not.

As you can see from the above image, this silicon atom has only 4 electrons. So it does not fulfill the octet rule.

Now, in order to fulfill the octet of this silicon atom, we have to move the electron pair from the outer atom (i.e oxygen atom) to form a double bond.

Still, the octet of silicon atom is not fulfilled as it has only 6 electrons.

So again moving the electron pair from the oxygen atom, we will get the following structure.

Now you can see from the above image that the silicon atom as well as oxygen atom has 8 electrons. So both the atoms fulfill the octet rule and hence the above lewis structure of SiO is stable.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of SiO represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of SiO can also be represented as shown below.

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of AlI3
Lewis Structure of PF2-
Lewis Structure of SI4
Lewis Structure of GaCl3
Lewis Structure of NSF 

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