How to use LewisLab

A guided tour of every tool, from your first search to exporting a finished structure, plus the full keyboard reference.

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Step 1 of 7

Start with a formula

Type any formula — H2O, SO4^2-, XeF4 — and the generator draws the Lewis structure, the formal charges and the VSEPR geometry, with every electron accounted for. Nothing is saved and nothing is required.

Open the generator

Use ← and → to move

Reference: every tool

Type a formula in standard notation, H2O, CO2, SO4^2- (or SO4 2-), NH4^+, into the search bar or the generator. Quick-access chips below the search box load the most common classroom molecules in one click. Element symbols are case-sensitive: CO is carbon monoxide, Co is cobalt.

Try the generator Browse all tools

Keyboard shortcuts

⌘K / Ctrl+K: Open the command palette (tools, pages, compounds)
⌘Z / Ctrl+Z: Undo the last editor action
⌘⇧Z / Ctrl+Y: Redo
Esc: Cancel the active tool / close any dialog
Enter: Confirm the focused action or step
Tab / Shift+Tab: Move focus through toolbar, canvas, and panels
Arrow keys: Nudge the selected atom on the canvas
1 / 2 / 3: Set selected bond to single / double / triple
L: Switch to the lone-pair tool
Delete / Backspace: Remove the selected atom or bond

How to use LewisLab

Start with a formula

Reference: every tool

Searching for compounds

Using the Generator

Drawing in the Interactive Editor

Fixing mistakes

Solve Mode

Exploring resonance

Reading VSEPR geometry

Interpreting formal charges

Exporting your work

Learning options

Keyboard shortcuts

All tools