Which do you prioritize first

[MedhaVallurupalli1F]

Which do you prioritize first, formal charge or specific number of valence electrons per atom, when drawing structures?

[Kguox1B]

I would say number of valence electrons because then we have figure out how to distribute them, which gives us our formal charge.

[Haorui Li 1A]

I think the formal charge is just a way to provide you a possible more stable Lewis structure.

[simmoneokamoto3K]

I prioritize valence electrons personally, because without the valence electrons, you can't calculate the formal charge technically

[Leah farhadi 1F]

I usually start with the valence electrons and single bonds then count the number of electrons and adjust the electrons. After, I take into account formal charge and look for the structure with the lowest energy, taking account expanded octets.

[Sisi Li 1F]

Prioritize valence electrons first, then look at the formal charge

[Brian Kwak 1D]

Prioritize the valence electron/octet guideline and then the charges. For charges you want the lowest charges possible and the separation of charges.

[Daniel Kim 1D]

Valence electrons then formal charge so that you can have a rough guideline of how to order the electrons. Once you determine the formal charges, in relation to the overall charge, you can add changes.

[somyapanchal1D]

You always prioritize the number of valence electrons first. Counting the valence electrons is what allows you to draw out a rough sketch of the Lewis structure for that molecule. Formal charge comes into play last, when you're trying to figure out if what you have drawn is the best representation of the molecule. The formal charge always has to be as small as possible.

[Radha Patel 4I]

Valence electrons because you need to know the number of valence electrons for a certain structure in order to make bonds and lone pairs before you start adding formal charges.

[Yen Ho Chou 1D]

You prioritize octet rule before formal charge