Stable Lewis Structures

[Shuyi Yu 1B]

When making Lewis Structures and deciding where to use double bonds how can we determine which version is more stable?

[Patrick Cai 1L]

The Lewis structure version that has the more optimized combination of atoms with formal changes equal to 0 or as closest to 0 would be the more stable Lewis structure.

[gillianozawa4I]

I would test out all the different combinations of double bonds in the lewis structure (that match the number of electrons) and calculate the formal charge for each one. The formal charge closest to zero is the most stable.

[Sameen Mahmood 3D]

The structure that gives the most number of individual atoms a formal charge of 0 is the most stable. Ideally overall FC would be 0 too.

[Nicoline Breytenbach 3D]

Whichever structure gives the most possible atoms a formal charge of 0, or closest to 0!