LewisDraw

Gilbert Lewis

Lewis structures (or Lewis dot diagrams) visually represent the distribution of valence electrons in molecules, ions, or radicals. Bonds are shown as lines (two electrons), while non-bonding electrons appear as dots - two dots for a lone pair, one dot for a radical. The goal is to satisfy the octet rule (eight electrons per atom), with exceptions for H (2), He (2), Li (2), Be (4), and B (6). This rule, developed by Gilbert N. Lewis, illustrates how atoms share electrons to achieve stability.

LewisDraw is a web-based drawing canvas embedded in Chem21Labs homework and lab reports. Built in HTML5 and JavaScript, it runs on any operating system without plugins. LewisDraw does support the touch/click action, but it is currently not touch-enabled for touch/drag interactions.

Draw the Lewis structure of water, H
••
 – O – 
••
H

1. Click the "Auto 3D" radio button
2. Click the Oxygen symbol
3. Click on the drawing canvas
4. Click on the Hydrogen symbol
5. Click the Oxygen atom on the drawing canvas and drag to create a bond to Hydrogen. Mouseup to place the Hydrogen on the canvas
6. Repeat for the second Hydrogen
7. Click the electron pair icon
8. Click the Oxygen atom twice to add two lone electron pairs
9. Click on the molecule and drag to rotate

To experience the grading component click the Lewis Structure lab.