The Lewis Structure of Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)
Nature of the Bonds
Oxygen and Hydrogen: Moderately Covalent O - 3.44 H - 2.20 3.44-2.20= 1.24
Oxygen and Carbon: Moderately Covalent O - 3.44 C - 2.55 3.44-2.55= 0.89
Carbon and Carbon: Highly Covalent C - 2.55 C - 2.55 2.55-2.55= 0.00
Carbon and Hydrogen: Highly Covalent C - 2.55 H - 2.20 2.55-2.20= 0.35
VSEPR Form
Acetylsalicylic acid is cyclic. It is called cyclic because it contains a six carbon ring.
Is it polar or non-polar?
Acetylsalicylic acid is polar because it has an uneven distribution of positive and negative charges. The oxygen atoms in the molecule are the only atoms with unshared electrons, making these areas have a negative charge. All other atoms have electrons bonded to other atoms, and they have a positive charge. The charges are unevenly distributed because the charges are not the same in each side of the molecule.