Wikipedia:Molecular structure diagram
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Chemical structures are presented to help readers understand the nature of the titled material. One can subdivide
Depictions of molecular compounds is well accomplished using ChemDraw and related software. Cations and anions are also typically discrete and can be depicted unambiguously. For simple structures, say <10 atoms, it is helpful to depict all atoms explicitly. For more complex molecules, most hydrogen atoms attached to carbon are omitted, and carbon atoms are represented by vertices. For ease of readability, sans-serif fonts are preferred. Many artists employ color to highlight parts of the molecules.
Stereochemistry demands special attention because three-dimensionality is the most difficult part of a structure to visualize. Techniques for presenting 3-dimensional structures reflect the tastes of the artist. Three dimensionality is best highlighted by the depictions of bonds, using wedges, bolding, and hashed formats. Some artists highlight three-dimensionality by varying fonts sizes, e.g. slightly larger fonts for the "front" atoms. In organic chemistry, double bonds and C-H bonds are shorter than most single bonds.
Most molecules have lone pairs of electrons, which are sometimes stereochemically active. It is a matter of taste whether one includes the lone pair in a drawing. Lone pairs of electrons are more common for depictions that emphasize bonding, as in simple gaseous molecules, such as ammonia and nitric oxide.
Nonmolecular compounds, e.g.
Some important chemical species cannot be easily represented with simple pictures, e.g. hydrochloric acid and non-stoichiometric compounds.