How to decide central atom?
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How to decide central atom?
Is the central atom in the Lewis structures based off of which atom has the lowest electronegativity or which atom has the lowest ionization energy?
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Re: How to decide central atom?
The trend for electronegativity and ionization energy is the same on the periodic table. So the element that is the central atom should have both the lowest ionization energy and be the least electronegative. Electronegativity and ionization energy increases as you go up and to the right.
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Re: How to decide central atom?
The central atom is always the one with the lowest ionization energy/electronegativity. An easier way to tell which is the central atom, however, is by seeing which atom we have the least of. For example, for CH4 C would be in the middle since there is only one C atom.
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Re: How to decide central atom?
The central atom is the atom with the lowest ionization energy, so the atom that requires the lowest amount of energy to remove an electron. The element closest to the bottom left of the periodic table.
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Re: How to decide central atom?
Nicholas Le 3A wrote:Is the central atom in the Lewis structures based off of which atom has the lowest electronegativity or which atom has the lowest ionization energy?
It is based off of lowest ionization energy.
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Re: How to decide central atom?
The central atom should be based on the lowest ionization energy and electronegativity.
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