Lewis dot diagram configuration

[supernova1203]

So I am doing my lewis dot diagram work, does it matter where i put the valence electors?

for example oxygen has 6 valence electrons, i go with using the N E S W (North, east south, west)

I put 2 north, 2 east, 2 south but none of west(6 in total so far)

but the book puts them in the configuration of 2 north 2 east 1 south and 1 west

its the same isn't it? does it matter? I suppose the book is just trying to give the illusion of a full orbit(covering each direction)

I have the same answer as the book, just positioned differently, it shouldn't matter should it?

 

[eooxx]

kinda depends.
take for example the Oxygens in H₂O and CO₂. While they both have 4 valence electrons, they're placed differently. in CO₂ they're 'north' and 'south' because of CO₂'s linear shape, but in H₂O they're typically 'north east' and 'north west' because of H₂O's bent shape.

specifically about the 6 electrons on oxygen, as an instructor I wouldn't care where you put them as long as you get the number right. (a little symmetry doesn't hurt, though)

 

[onanox]

a ground state oxygen atom has 2 pairs of electrons and 2 unpaired electrons, so it does matter.
see hund's rule