Question 23.4: Interpreting Line Drawings of Molecules with Functional Grou...
Interpreting Line Drawings of Molecules with Functional Groups
Draw a complete electron-dot structure for melatonin, a hormone produced in the body to regulate sleep patterns.
Step 1. Draw the skeletal structure showing connecting atoms. Add a carbon at each endpoint or vertex in the line drawing as shown.
Step 2. Complete the octet for each atom. Line drawings do not show hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon but do show hydrogen atoms bonded to other elements such as nitrogen or oxygen. Line drawings also do not show lone pairs of electrons.
For each carbon atom, complete the octet by drawing bonds to hydrogen so the total number of bonds around the carbon atom is four. For atoms other than carbon, complete the octet by adding lone pairs of electrons.