Chemistry · CHEMICAL BONDING AND MOLECULAR STRUCTURE

Consider the following statements regarding the Lewis approach and formal charges: (A) Generally, the lowest energy Lewis structure is the one with the smallest formal charges on the atoms. (B) In writing Lewis structures, each positive charge on a polyatomic ion means the subtraction of one electron from the total valence electrons. (C) Lewis dot structures successfully predict the three-dimensional shapes of polyatomic molecules. (D) In the nitrite ion (\( \text{NO}_2^- \)), the total number of valence electrons is 18. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. A
   (A), (B) and (C) only
2. B
   (C) and (D) only
3. C
   (B) and (C) only
4. D
   (A), (B) and (D) only