Electronegativity

[FrankieClarke2C]

I know you're supposed to always put the most electronegative element as the central atom, but what is the actual reason for this?

[Catherine Kim 3K]

The element with the smallest electronegativity is the central atom.

[Emma Scholes 1L]

The atom with the smallest electronegativity is typically the central atom because atoms with high electronegativity are more reluctant to share their electrons with other atoms and instead keep their lone pairs.

[Karan Thaker 2L]

Also, you want to place more EN atoms around the less EN central atom, so that the more EN atoms pull the electrons towards them and sort of "even out" the dipole moments. This just makes the compound/molecule more stable.

[CateJensen3K]

It helps with the stability of the atom.