bonding diagram limitations

• What is one advantage of a dot and cross diagram?

  It clearly shows electron origins from atoms
• What limitation do dot and cross diagrams have?

  They do not indicate the shape of the molecule
• What is a two-dimensional stick diagram used for?

  To represent molecules in two dimensions
• What is a problem with two-dimensional stick diagrams?

  They do not show which atom contributes electrons
• What do two-dimensional stick diagrams fail to represent?

  Outer electrons not involved in bonds
• What is a benefit of a three-dimensional stick diagram?

  It shows the shape of the molecule
• What is a ball and stick diagram used to represent?

  Giant ionic lattices like sodium chloride
• What is an advantage of ball and stick diagrams?

  They show ions in three dimensions
• What is a limitation of ball and stick diagrams?

  They show ions as widely spaced
• What do space filling diagrams provide better insight into?

  How closely packed the ions are
• What is a limitation of space filling diagrams?

  They can obscure three-dimensional packing
• What common problem do both ball and stick and space filling diagrams share?

  They show only a tiny part of the crystal lattice
• What impression do ball and stick and space filling diagrams give about crystal lattices?

  They appear much smaller than they are