How to Draw Lewis Structures: Five Easy Steps

A video tutorial for how to draw Lewis Structures in five steps. The video covers the basic Lewis structures you'll see in an introductory chemistry class.




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The five steps are:

1. Find the total valence electrons for the molecule.

2. Put the least electronegative atom in the center. Note: Hydrogen (H) always goes outside.

3. Put two electrons between atoms to form a chemical bond.

4. Complete octets on outside atoms.

5. If central atom does not have an octet, move electrons from outer atoms to form double or triple bonds.

Lewis Structures are important to learn because they help us predict:

- the shape of a molecule.
- how the molecule might react with other molecules.
- the physical properties of the molecule (like boiling point, surface tension, etc.).

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Drawing done in Adobe Illustrator and captured with Camtasia Studio on a Microsoft Surface Pro 3. Audio recording using a Yeti Blue microphone.

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