Calcium Lewis Dot Structure: Drawing, Several Compounds, and Detailed Explanation

by

The Calcium Lewis dot structure is very simple and easy to represent. This article illustrates the calcium Lewis dot structure and its combination with other atoms to form stable compounds.

Calcium (Atomic number = 20 and electronic configuration = 2,8,8,2) is in group 2 of the periodic table. Because it is in group 2 it has only 2 valence electrons. The calcium Lewis dot structure representation only shows the presence of 2 electrons around the calcium atom. Being a monoatomic element its Lewis dot structure is quite simple.

calcium lewis dot structure

Calcium Lewis dot structure can be formed with other elements as well due to the metallic nature of calcium. This led to the formation of many stable compounds some of which are listed below:

  • Calcium is a reactive alkaline earth metal and the fifth most abundant element found in the earth’s crust. It is present in the form of various minerals like marble, chalk, limestone, etc. The most common mineral of calcium obtained is calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Physically calcium like other metals in the periodic table is ductile (drawn into wires) and has a strong metallic character.

Its chemical properties are also quite diversified as it can easily react with water to form calcium hydroxide and release hydrogen gas. It can easily react with components of air- oxygen, and nitrogen to form calcium oxide and calcium nitride respectively. Calcium also has a significant role to play in the synthesis of a variety of catalysts, ligands, and coordination complexes. It can easily form complexes with lanthanides and actinides due to its high coordination number.

Survival of this earth without calcium is not possible. It is one of the most important constituents of the animal body. This element is responsible for making healthy bones and teeth which make the complete body framework or endoskeleton for animal entities. Many physiological processes related to the human body like clotting, muscle contraction, heartbeat, nerve function, hormone release, and kidney function are governed by calcium.

So calcium and health are directly proportional to each other and its recommended amount can be achieved from various food sources and supplements. The recommended amount of calcium intake is crucial to avoid the possibility of toxicity and deficiency.

Calcium Lewis dot structure (Ion)

Calcium belongs to group 2 of the periodic table. It has 2 electrons in its valence shell. Being an alkaline earth metal it will lose its 2 electrons to gain the nearest noble gas neon configuration with a total of 18 electrons. So its ionic Lewis structure would be calcium with a dipositive charge. The calcium element will change to a calcium dipositive cation.

calcium ion

Calcium Lewis dot structure with oxygen (CaO)

Calcium belongs to group 2 of the periodic table with 2 valence electrons. Oxygen (Atomic number = 8 and electronic configuration = 2,6) belongs to group 16 of the periodic table with 6 valence electrons. To achieve their octet stability calcium being metal will lose its 2 electrons. Oxygen, on the flip side, being a non-metal and more electronegative than calcium will attract those 2 electrons. This will lead to Ca2+ and O2- ions and the formation of ionic compound CaO which are held together by ionic or electrovalent bond.

CaO 1

Calcium Lewis dot structure with nitrogen (Ca3N2)

Calcium holds the position in the 2nd group of the periodic table with 2 valence electrons. Nitrogen (Atomic number = 7 and electronic configuration = 2,5) belongs to group 15 of the periodic table with 5 electrons in their valence shell. To achieve the nearest noble gas configuration calcium being metal will lose 2 electrons and form a Ca2+ cation. On the other hand, nitrogen being a non-metal will gain 3 electrons and form N3-anion.

Now to achieve this stability criteria 2 nitrogen atoms will gain 3 electrons each from 3 calcium atoms. Each calcium atom will donate 2 electrons to 2 nitrogen atoms. So now after completing the octet there will be 3 Ca2+ and 2 N3- ions thereby forming a calcium nitride (Ca3N2) molecule.

calcium nitride

Calcium Lewis dot structure with chlorine (CaCl2)

Calcium belongs to group 2 of the periodic table with 2 electrons in its valence shell. Chlorine (Atomic number = 17 and electronic configuration = 2,8,7) belongs to group 17 with 7 valence electrons. Calcium is an alkaline earth metal that will lose its 2 electrons which will be gained by each chlorine atom thereby forming calcium chloride (CaCl2).

CaCl2

Calcium Lewis dot structure with sulfur (CaS)

Calcium Lewis dot structure with sulfur is on similar lines as calcium oxide (CaO) lewis dot structure. Calcium as mentioned several times belongs to group 2 of the periodic table with 2 electrons in its valence shell. Sulfur (Atomic number = 16 and electronic configuration = 2,8,6) just like oxygen belongs to group 16 of the periodic table. To acquire their desired octet criteria calcium being metal will donate its 2 electrons which will be gained by sulfur because of its electron-attracting property. This will lead to Ca2+ cation and S2- anion and the formation of the ionic compound calcium sulfide (CaS).

CaS

Calcium Lewis dot structure with phosphorous (Ca3P2)

Calcium Lewis dot structure with phosphorous is analogous to calcium nitride (Ca3N2) Lewis dot structure. Calcium with 2 valence electrons belongs to the 2ndgroup of the periodic table. Phosphorus (Atomic number = 15 and electronic configuration = 2,8,5) with 5 valence electrons sits in 15th group of periodic table.

Phosphorous being a non-metal and more electronegative element need to gain 3 electrons and calcium being a metal needs to lose 2 electrons to achieve the desired stability criteria. So to make it happen 2 phosphorus atoms will gain 3 electrons from 3 calcium atoms. Each calcium atom will donate 2 electrons to 2 phosphorus atoms thereby forming calcium phosphide (Ca3P2).

calcium phosphide

Calcium Lewis dot structure with iodine (CaI2)

Iodine (Atomic number = 53 and electronic configuration = 2,8,18,18,7) just like chlorine belongs to group 17 of the periodic table with 7 electrons in its valence shell. Calcium has 2 electrons in its valence shell. Being metal calcium will donate its 2 electrons to each iodine atom. Iodine being electronegative will accept 1 electron from calcium to complete the octet stability. This will lead to the formation of the stable compound calcium iodide (CaI2).

CaI2

Calcium Lewis dot structure (Related FAQs)

What are alkaline earth metals?

The elements present in group 2 of the periodic table are called alkaline earth metals. Group 2 of the periodic table comprises beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium. They are the most reactive metals after alkali metals in the periodic table. All the group 2 elements of the periodic table are called alkaline earth metals because their oxides were discovered from the earth’s crust.

Name the properties explained by ionic compounds.

The properties are:

  1. Ionic compounds have strong melting and boiling point.
  2. They are brittle.
  3. The ions combine by strong electrostatic forces.
  4. They can form crystal structures
  5. They have a high enthalpy of fusion and vaporization
  6. They are soluble in water and insoluble in organic solvents.
  7. They are very good conductors of electricity in a molten and aqueous state.

Write the electronic configuration of calcium

Atomic number of calcium is 20. So its electronic configuration is 1s22s22p63s23p64s2.

Which calcium compound emits white dazzling light? Explain its historical significance.

The calcium compound which emits white dazzling light is calcium oxide. When it is heated near its melting point then it emits brilliant white light. During the nineteenth century when electricity was still not used for lightning and its availability was scarce, heated calcium oxide was used to illuminate the space and area. It was also used to brighten up the film stage productions.