A simple procedure for writing Lewis structures for molecules that eliminates all the above

problems is as follows (3):

1)      Find the central atom of the molecule. Connect the central atom with the other atoms of the
molecule with single bonds.

The central atom usually has a “subscript” of 1 in the molecular formula. If there are present two
atoms with “subscript” 1 then the central atom is the less electronegative of the two (for an
electronegativity table see here) .
The central atom can not be a hydrogen atom

i.e. Consider the molecule with a general molecular formula ABx. Identify the central atom.
           The central atom is the A atom since it has a subscript equal to 1.

2)      Calculate the number of electrons which must be shared through π bonds (pi bonding), P in
the molecule:

P = 6n + 2 – V                            (1)

                    Where n  is the number of atoms in the molecule excluding the hydrogen atoms

V is the total number of valence electrons in the molecule  =

                                        = ( sum of group numbers of  the atoms in the molecule) – charge

3)      Add double or triple bonds to the structure in Step 1 according to the results obtained in
Step 2. Add unshared pairs of electrons around each atom so that all of them have octets around
them (except for the H atom)

4)      Calculate the formal charges of the atoms in the molecule as follows: i) Any atom having
its normal valency number of bonds will be electrically neutral; any atom which does not have its
normal valency number of bonds will have a formal charge  ii) The formal charge may be
calculated by subtracting the number of electrons “owned” by the element from its group number

Formal Charge of Element = Group Number – Total number of electrons “owned” by the atom
concerned                                                                                             (2)

As an example let us write the Lewis structure for the CN- ion:

Step1: Since the molecule has 2 atoms and it is linear there is no central atom. Connect the 2
atoms with a single bond.
Step 2: Calculate the # of electrons in p bonds (multiple bonds) using formula (1):

Where n in this case is 2 since CN- consists of two atoms

Where V = (4 + 5) – (-1) = 10  
Therefore, P = 6 * 2 + 2 – 10 = 4      So there are 4 π (pi) electrons in CN-   and that means
either 2 double  or 1 triple bond.

Since there are only 2 atoms there is no possibility for  2 double bonds
The 2 atoms are joined together with a triple bond. Therefore a draw for the Lewis structure of
CN- is as follows:
Formal charge = [# of valence electrons] – [electrons in lone pairs + 1/2 the number of bonding
electrons]

Formal charge of S = 6-(0+4) =+2

Formal charge of O = 6 – (6+1) =-1