central atom

[danielruiz1G]

how exactly do you know which atom is the central atom when drawing Lewis structures?

[Luis Avalos 1D]

It's generally the least electronegative element that's in the middle.

[Jacy Black 1C]

also, this can be tested by calculating formal charges and finding the lowest combination!

[Yixiao Hu 3C]

choose the atom with the lowest ionization energy as the central atom

[Adam Vuilleumier 2K]

An atom with a high electron affinity (low ionization energy) will usually be the central atom in a molecule. This is because it can easily form bonds with other atoms without using a lot of energy. Central atoms typically have the most bonds, so it makes sense that an atom that likes to form bonds would occupy this position.

[AlyssaBei_1F]

The central atom is the atom with the least ionization energy. Hydrogen is never a central atom. Ionization energy increases up a group and increases across a period making Flourine (F) have the largest ionization energy.

[Jayde Felix 4H]

It is the atom with the lowest ionization energy.

[AlyssaBei_1F]

The central atom is most likely the atom with the lowest ionization energy