Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
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Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
When constructing a resonance structure, is it more common to add double bonds between atoms or lone pairs to the central atom to balance out the number of valence electrons?
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Re: Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
I don't think there is a general rule as to whether you should add lone pairs or double bonds between atoms to the central atom to achieve a stable octet of electrons. It just depends on the molecule itself and what would make a structure with the lowest formal charge possible for the lewis structure of the molecule.
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Re: Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
I do not believe that there is a rule as to which comes first, but I would think that a double bond would come before an expanded octet.
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Re: Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
This really depends on the molecule and you'd have to access where a single or double bond should be fit
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Re: Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
I agree with Heung. There is no particular rule to follow if double bonds are prioritized over lone pairs. It's a matter of minimizing the formal charge, but also taking into consideration the capabilities (bond-wise) of a given atom.
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Re: Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
There is no general rule to follow when it comes to this. Every situation should be assessed differently.
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Re: Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
They are both equally important. This is because each contributes their respective characteristics to an atom.
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Re: Bonds or Lone Pairs more important?
I believe they are of equal importance, but formal charge clarifies which one you should use in each situation.
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