diff --git a/tool/sdg/src/main/java/org/openscience/cdk/layout/AtomPlacer.java b/tool/sdg/src/main/java/org/openscience/cdk/layout/AtomPlacer.java
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/tool/sdg/src/main/java/org/openscience/cdk/layout/AtomPlacer.java
+++ b/tool/sdg/src/main/java/org/openscience/cdk/layout/AtomPlacer.java
@@ -896,6 +896,10 @@ public class AtomPlacer
         {
     		//path += ac.getAtom(f).getSymbol();
             degreeSum += superAC.getConnectedBondsCount(ac.getAtom(f));
+            
+            Integer implH = ac.getAtom(f).getImplicitHydrogenCount();            
+            if (implH != null)
+                degreeSum += implH;
         }
         //System.out.println(path + ": " + degreeSum);
         return degreeSum;
Include hydrogens when counting degree. In practice this means carboxylic groups are always placed with the carbonyl pointing up or down when at the end of a chain.