Example
C
.
.
.
.
F
:
..
..
.
Combine carbon (4 valence electrons) and
four fluorines (7 valence electrons each)
to write a Lewis structure for CF4.
:
F
:
..
..
C
:
F
:
..
..
:
F
:
..
..
:
F
:
..
..
The octet rule is satisfied for carbon and
each fluorine.