Home

Citation: Haiping Wang. A Streamlined Method for Drawing Lewis Structures Using the Valence State of Outer Atoms[J]. University Chemistry, ;2024, 39(8): 383-388. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202401073 shu

A Streamlined Method for Drawing Lewis Structures Using the Valence State of Outer Atoms

Haiping Wang

School of Optoelectronic Materials & Technology, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China

Received Date: 26 January 2024
Revised Date: 25 March 2024

This article presents a streamlined approach to drawing Lewis structures that begins by constructing a trial structure that adheres to the valence states of the outer atoms, with any molecular charge (if present) placed on the central atom. The subsequent step adjusts bond and lone pairs to fulfill an octet configuration for the central atom if its electron count deviates from 8. This method facilitates the automatic generation of formal charges, eliminating the need for additional calculations typically required in other approaches that start with determining the total number of valence electrons. By focusing on valence configurations to construct Lewis structures, this method reduces the potential for errors associated with miscalculations.
- Lewis structures,
- Formal charge,
- Covalent bond,
- Octet rule
1. [1]
  Lewis, G. N. J. Chem. Phys. 1933, 1, 17.
2. [2]
  Gillespie, R. J.; Robinson, E. A.; Gilbert, N. J. Comput. Chem. 2007, 28 (1), 87.
3. [3]
4. [4]
  Zhou, W.; Xu, Z.; Zhao, J. J. Chem. Educ. 2023, 100 (9), 3694.
5. [5]
6. [6]
7. [7]
8. [8]
  Parkin, G. J. Chem. Educ. 2019, 96, 2467.
9. [9]
10. [10]
  Curnow, O. J. J. Chem. Educ. 2021, 98 (4), 1454.
1. [1]
  Yan Yu , Zijian Wang , Hong Wu , Wei Hu . The Mystery of Self-Healing Materials: Breaking the Mirror and Restoring It. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(2): 268-272. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202501011
2. [2]
  Yun Chen , Daijie Deng , Li Xu , Xingwang Zhu , Henan Li , Chengming Sun . Covalent bond modulation of charge transfer for sensitive heavy metal ion analysis in a self-powered electrochemical sensing platform. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(1): 100144-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100144
3. [3]
  Mengxiu Li , Jiahui Mao , Jiangfeng Ni , Liang Li . Three birds with one stone: modification of Li₅FeO₄ with thermal induction of Lewis acid. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(4): 100189-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100189
4. [4]
  Xuexia He , Zhibin Lei , Pei Chen , Qi Li , Weiyu Deng , Peng Hu . 以“溶度积规则”指导电荷转移共晶沉淀析出——材料类专业无机化学教学改革案例. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(8): 1-10. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202410099
5. [5]
  Jianquan Liu , Xiangshan Wang . Teaching Design and Practice of Naming Rules for Circular Isomer Configuration under the Guidance of Information Literacy. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(7): 352-358. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202409082
6. [6]
  Kezhen Qi , Bei Cheng , Kaiqiang Xu . Ultrafast interfacial charge transfer promoted by the LSPR of Au nanoparticles for photocatalytic H₂ evolution. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(3): 100205-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100205
7. [7]
  Xiao Ma , Junjie Wang , Xin Chen , Jingcheng Li , Lihong Zhao , Xueping Sun , Shaojuan Cheng , Fang Wang . Exploring Innovative Approaches to Chemistry Instructional Organization Driven by Artificial Intelligence. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(9): 99-106. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202410085
8. [8]
  Limin Shao , Na Li . A Unified Equation Derived from the Charge Balance Equation for Constructing Acid-Base Titration Curve and Calculating Endpoint Error. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(11): 365-373. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202401086
9. [9]
  Weilai Yu , Chuanbiao Bie . Unveiling S-Scheme Charge Transfer Mechanism. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(4): 2307022-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202307022
10. [10]
  Xiping Luo , Xing Wang , Shengxiang Yang , Jianzhong Guo , Yuxuan Wang , Xuejuan Yang . Innovative “One Body, Dual Wings” Embedded Talent Cultivation Model: Practice in the Construction of Applied Chemistry Major at Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(3): 205-209. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202309058
11. [11]
  Zhilong Song , Shuaihua Lu , Qionghua Zhou , Jinlan Wang . T2MAT (text-to-material): A universal agent for generating material structures with goal properties from a single sentence. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(5): 100213-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100213
12. [12]
  Wen Tang , Luyu Sui , Qian Chen , Jun Shao , Xinwen Peng , Jianwen Jiang , Shuiliang Chen . Project-based Teaching of “the Condensed State of Polymers”: Unveiling the Lithium-Ion Battery Separator. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(11): 115-126. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202412108
13. [13]
  Qiying Xia , Guokui Liu , Yunzhi Li , Yaoyao Wei , Xia Leng , Guangli Zhou , Aixiang Wang , Congcong Mi , Dengxue Ma . Construction and Practice of “Teaching-Learning-Assessment Integration” Model Based on Outcome Orientation: Taking “Structural Chemistry” as an Example. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(10): 361-368. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202311007
14. [14]
  Yufan ZHAO , Jinglin YOU , Shixiang WANG , Guopeng LIU , Xiang XIA , Yingfang XIE , Meiqin SHENG , Feiyan XU , Kai TANG , Liming LU . Raman spectroscopic quantitative study of the melt microstructure in binary Li₂O-GeO₂ functional crystals. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(8): 1533-1544. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250063
15. [15]
  Yuejiao An , Wenxuan Liu , Yanfeng Zhang , Jianjun Zhang , Zhansheng Lu . Revealing Photoinduced Charge Transfer Mechanism of SnO₂/BiOBr S-Scheme Heterostructure for CO₂ Photoreduction. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(12): 2407021-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202407021
16. [16]
  Ping Ye , Lingshuang Qin , Mengyao He , Fangfang Wu , Zengye Chen , Mingxing Liang , Libo Deng . Potential of Zero Charge-Mediated Electrochemical Capture of Cadmium Ions from Wastewater by Lotus Leaf-Derived Porous Carbons. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(3): 100023-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202311032
17. [17]
  Lingling Li , Zhe Chen . Charge transfer mechanism investigation of S-scheme photocatalyst using soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(4): 100215-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2025.100215
18. [18]
  Rui Li , Jiayu Zhang , Anyang Li . Two Levels of Understanding of Chemical Bonds: a Case of the Bonding Model of Hypervalent Molecules. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(2): 392-398. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202308051
19. [19]
  Danqing Wu , Jiajun Liu , Tianyu Li , Dazhen Xu , Zhiwei Miao . Research Progress on the Simultaneous Construction of C—O and C—X Bonds via 1,2-Difunctionalization of Olefins through Radical Pathways. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(11): 146-157. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202403087
20. [20]
  Linhan Tian , Changsheng Lu . Discussion on Sextuple Bonding in Diatomic Motifs of Chromium Family Elements. University Chemistry, 2024, 39(8): 395-402. doi: 10.3866/PKU.DXHX202401056

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(2)
Abstract views(501)
HTML views(45)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

Address：Zhongguancun North First Street 2,100190 Beijing, PR China Tel: +86-010-82449177-888

DownLoad: Full-Size Img PowerPoint

Return