drawing complex lewis structures
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 11:39 pm
by Jackie Ngo 1C
how does one draw the lewis structure of a molecule as complex as CH3COOH? it's written in that order for a reason right? I totally get how to draw the simple ones like CH4, but for complex molecules, I don't even know where to start. Help please!! thanks!!!
Re: drawing complex lewis structures
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2018 12:01 am
by Brian Chhoy 4I
My take on the process would be to just start by drawing out the molecule from left to right. The beginning is pretty simple, with a carbon in the center bonded to 3 hydrogens and 1 carbon. The COOH part is just to show that the hydrogen is attached to the oxygen rather than to the carbon. If it were to be written CO2H, it would assume that the hydrogens as well as the oxygens are all bonded to the carbon.