Abstract: 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.

Key words: Lewis structures, Formal charge, Covalent bond, Octet rule