central atom

[Lauren Bui 1E]

When drawing a lewis structure, how do you determine which atom goes in the center?

[Ryan Narisma 4G]

Hi Lauren Bui 1E! To answer your question, to decide which element is the central atom, check which element has the least electronegativity (electron pulling power). I hope this helps!

[Cassidy Kohlenberger 3D]

In addition to referring to the electronegativity, I would look at the compound to see which atom is more likely to form bonds. For example, carbon forms four, nitrogen three, oxygen two, etc.

[Arianna Perea 3H]

why is the central atom the one with the least electronegativity?

[HuyHa_2H]

The electron with the least electronegativity is the one that is the central atom but pretty much most of the time it's the element with the least amount of atoms in the molecule.

[Julieta Serobyan4D]

When drawing a lewis structure, how do you determine which atom goes in the center?

If you do not know the electronegativity, you can basically count how many bonds each atom can form and then decide. For example, H in CH4 can form 1 bond, so it's logical to put C in the center

[AniP_2D]

The least electronegative atom is the central atom when drawing Lewis structures.

[Joowon Seo 3A]

Usually if its the only atom: e.g. CH4, then C, the unique atom, would go into the center. But in general, it is the one with the least electronegativity.

[Abigail_Hagen2G]

It's the least electronegative because it's the one that can form the most bonds

[Emily_4B]

Would using the element with the lowest ionization energy be synonymous to the lowest electronegativity?

[Michelle Xie 2B]

Use the element with the lowest electronegativity.

[Ashley Osorio]

This excerpt from the book helped me a bit figuring this out. "If there is doubt, a good rule of thumb for molecules other than compounds of hydrogen is to choose as the central atom the element with the lowest ionization energy. This arrangement often results in the lowest energy because an atom in the central posi- tion shares more of its electrons than does a terminal atom. Atoms with higher ionization energies are more reluctant to share and are more likely to hold on to their electrons as lone pairs.".

[Kayla Maldonado 1C]

why is the central atom the one with the least electronegativity?

The least electronegative elements are in the center of lewis structures because an atom in the central position shares more of its electrons than does an atom on the sides of the central atom or the terminal position.

[305376058]

The atom in the center should be the one with the least electronegativity.

[Venus_Hagan 2L]

The central atoms should be the least electronegative atom. My TA also mentioned that if you have a molecule and its like one of an element and 4 of another then the central atom will probably be the element that only has one.

[Clarice Chui 2C]

Also, Hydrogen will never be the central atom just fyi!

[jmtz1I]

The atom with the least electronegativity is the one that is the central atom.