How to Draw Lewis Structures: Five Easy Steps

A video tutorial for how to draw Lewis Structures in five steps. More Lewis Structures help at Breslyn.org (and get all my free chem video guides)!

The video covers the basic Lewis structures you'll see in an introductory chemistry class.

Steps to Write Lewis Structures
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 Resources
• Lewis Structures Made Simple: youtu.be/1ZlnzyHahvo
• More practice: youtu.be/DQclmBeIKTc
• Counting Valence Electrons: youtu.be/VBp7mKdcrDk
• Calculating Formal Charge: youtu.be/vOFAPlq4y_k
• Exceptions to the Octet Rule: youtu.be/Dkj-SMBLQzM

Lewis Structures are important to learn because they help us understand how atoms and electrons are arranged in a molecule, such as Carbon dioxide. This can help us determine the molecular geometry, how the molecule might react with other molecules, and some of the physical properties of the molecule (like boiling point and surface tension).

Chemistry help at Breslyn.org