Lewis structure

Lewis structures, also known as Lewis dot formulas, Lewis dot structures, electron dot structures, or Lewis electron dot structures (LEDS), are diagrams that show the bonding between atoms of a molecule, as well as the lone pairs of electrons that may exist in the molecule. A Lewis structure can be drawn for any covalently bonded molecule, as well as coordination compounds. The Lewis structure was named after Gilbert N. Lewis, who introduced it in his 1916 article The Atom and the Molecule.

Quotes

• A simple way of indicating the covalent bonds in molecules is to use what are called Lewis structures, or electron-dot structures, in which the valence shell electrons of an atom are represented as dots. … Simpler still is the use of Kekulé structures, or line-bond structures, in which a two-electron covalent bond is indicated as a line drawn between atoms.
  • John McMurry, Organic Chemistry 8th ed. (2012), Ch. 1 : Structure and Bonding