Lewis Dot Structure

[Savannah Torella 1L]

When drawing a Lewis dot structure for an element, does it matter which order you place the dots in? I thought I remembered there being a specific order in high school, but it doesn't seem to be mentioned now.

[Keshav Patel 14B 2B]

When you are doing a lewis dot structure for one independent atom, then you put the electrons according to the outer shell of valence electrons. The order is typically one dot clockwise at each spot until you use all of your electrons. Say you have 5 electrons in the other shell which would be nitrogen, you would have one pair at the top, and one dot around the rest.

[Ralph Zhang 2L]

For an element by itself, you would generally space out the electrons symmetrically in reference with the four cardinal directions around the element symbol.

[Yeprem]

I think it depends on the parallel or paired electrons in your valence shell.

[Ayesha Aslam-Mir 3C]

Wouldn't you put one on each side first before you match the pairs of electrons? or am I just thinking of spin...
Actually I think this applies since we have to think how the electron alone in an orbital and a pair represents two that are in the same one. Overall you'd probably have to be conscious of the general charge though as to pairs going on opposite ends.

[Marco Vivar 3G]

You place each dot around until it is time to pair the dots. Think of it like spin where every shell has to have 1 then it starts to become paired

[Sam Wentzel 1F 14B]

I believe the electron configuration that is symmetric is preferable. However, the variability of electron and bond placement is an example of electron resonance within the atom, so if you can have multiple bond configurations, it is important to draw ALL possible configurations so as to communicate this.

Hope this helps!

[905579227]

I remember what you are talking about but i do not know what it is called exactly but you just have to place the dots in the cardnal directions like the person above said to do so, Ill try to remeber what you are talking about but as of rn i do not remember either.

[Fernanda Olvera 3D]

I agree with Yeprem, I believe it depends.

[Lily Mohtashami]

It really depends on the certain Lewis Structure. The key is to make the structure as symmetrical as possible. So if you are making the structure for Silicon you would want one dot (electron) on each side of Si since there are four valence electrons. I think typically you would go in a clockwise order one by one.

[SahajDole_1C]

When it's for a single atom, you just place the electrons in the four cardinal directions.

[SahajDole_1C]

When it's for a single atom, you just place the electrons in the four cardinal directions.