Which of the following statements about Lewis dot structures for neutral compounds is correct?

• A. Lewis structures for neutral compounds always contain double bonds.
• B. Hydrogen atoms in Lewis structures can have up to eight electrons around them.
• C. All atoms in a neutral compound must have a complete octet in their Lewis structure.
• D. The total number of valence electrons used in the Lewis structure equals the sum of the valence electrons for all atoms in the compound.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that Lewis dot structures represent the valence electrons of atoms in a molecule, showing how atoms share or transfer electrons to form bonds.
2. Recall that the total number of valence electrons in the Lewis structure must equal the sum of the valence electrons from all atoms in the neutral compound, ensuring electron count consistency.
3. Recognize that not all Lewis structures require double bonds; some molecules have only single bonds depending on their bonding needs.
4. Remember that hydrogen atoms are an exception to the octet rule and can only have a maximum of 2 electrons around them, not 8.
5. Know that while many atoms aim for a complete octet, there are exceptions (such as molecules with odd numbers of electrons or expanded octets), so not all atoms must have a complete octet in neutral compounds.