A Simple Approach for Beginners to Drawing Lewis Structures, Resonance Forms, and Isomers

Abstract

Lewis structures, resonance forms, and isomers are difficult for beginners to draw in a general chemistry class. Though various methods and their improved procedures have appeared in the literature and general chemistry textbooks, most of them are too complicated to understand or can only be applied to a small number of molecules. A simplified approach with the rationale behind it for drawing Lewis structures, resonance forms, and isomers is introduced in this paper. In addition, the adjusted procedures that deal with odd-electron molecules or ions are also proposed.