Determine if molecule is in most stable form

[Jordan_Wesson_2J]

Is there some way to determine if a molecule is in its most stable form with out it being given?

[Nicolette_Canlian_2L]

certain diatomic molecules, like CO2 and H2O are in the most stable forms.

[Matthew Choi 2H]

I think you should just draw the Lewis structure of the molecule and check to see if the formal charges of the atoms are all 0 or close to 0.

[Danielle_Gallandt3I]

I think for many of them you just have to memorize, but some are pretty apparent and easy to remember, like an O2 molecule and many other diatomic molecules

[Alysa Rallistan 2G]

If it isn't a diatomic molecule, you would probably have to find this out by calculating the dG for the reaction if it is negative the molecule is more stable than its elements and if the value is positive then vice versa

[CHEM 14B Lover]

I think you can also consider whether or not the molecule is in its most oxidised state. If it is then it's in a lowest energy configuration (I think).