Lone Pair Electrons

Definition

Lone pair electrons are pairs of valence electrons that are not involved in bonding and are located on an atom. They occupy specific regions around the central atom in a molecule or ion.

Related terms

Valence Electrons:

Electrons located in the outermost energy level of an atom that participate in chemical bonding.

Bonding Electrons: Electrons shared between atoms to form covalent bonds.

Lewis Structure:

A diagram that shows how atoms are connected and arranged within a molecule using dots to represent valence electrons.