Multiple Compounds (3.41)

[vivianndo_1L]

How would I start the process of drawing a Lewis structure with multiple compounds?

For instance, 3.41b asks us to draw the structure for CH3OH. How would I begin? Same goes for 3.41c: H2C(NH2)COOH

[Yadira Flores 1G]

I always begin by drawing each element in the order it was given. So for your first example Carbon is given first so I would draw the carbon with the O bonded to it, this being because H tends to only make one bond so it'd be unlikely all four would be in a linear form. So, I would have a carbon who has three surrounding hydrogens and is bonded with an O which has an H bonded with it at its end because I know that O and H tend to bond with one another. Hope that helps with the other one.

[vivianndo_1L]

Okay, cool, thanks so much!

[Komal Prakash 1H]

When making Lewis structures, it also helps to put the least electronegative atoms in the center and to look at how many valence electrons an atom has. The more it has, the less central in the structure it probably is because it has less electrons to be filled.