Lewis Structure

[Raquel Rodriguez]

What is this easiest way to draw balanced lewis structure?

[alanaarchbold]

Make sure the element with the lowest ionization energy is in the center.

[Nancy Hu - 4E]

Make sure that the formal charges are closest to zero. A way that makes it easier for me is to keep the valence electrons for each element in mind when drawing the lewis structure so that I don't have to guess and check the formal charges for the best structure.

[Carissa Young 1K]

Make sure that the atoms are also balanced on opposing sides of the central atom and as said above, calculate the total number of valence electrons and don't forget to follow octet rule.

[Kate_Santoso_4F]

Remember exceptions to the octet rule. For example, Boron and Aluminum commonly fail to complete an octet and often form compounds in which they have 6 valence electrons. Remember which elements can have an expanded octet. The octet rule can be expanded by some elements by using the d orbitals found in the third principal energy level. These elements include sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, and chlorine.

[Erin Kim 2G]

1) count number of valence electrons
2) put element with lowest ionization energy in middle
3) draw single bonds plus lone electrons to complete octet around all elements
4) check total electron number to match number of electrons, adjust accordingly
5) check formal charges around all elements to get the formal charge closest to 0

[SummerLee1F]

Calculate number of valence electrons. The element with the smallest amount will always be center. Add them all up to draw the dots.

[Elizabeth Kim 4E]

Make sure that the Lewis structure adds up to the amount of valence electrons and there are all complete octets and the formal charges all around are zero.

[Rylee Nelsen 3A]

You have to make sure that the elements symmetrically spaced, that the element with the lowest ionization energy is in the middle and that the formal charges are the lowest to make the most stable structure.

[705170809]

I've been to a couple of different Workshops, and some UAs have a different method of deciding which element goes in the center. Some say that you want the structure to be as symmetrical as possible, so you should be placing the atom that least occurs in the middle, whereas some say that it should be the element with the lowest ionization energy. Which method produces the most accurate results to drawing Lewis structure?

[MichaelMoreno2G]

For the problems revolving lewis dot structures such as the one from the midterm, where you have to identify which element it is from the given structure, can someone explain how to find it? I was confused on that question.