Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of dimethylamine, (CH3)2NH?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
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Which of the following best describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound PBr_3?
A
Phosphorus is at the center with three single bonds to bromine atoms and three lone pairs on phosphorus.
B
Phosphorus is at the center with three double bonds to bromine atoms and no lone pairs on phosphorus.
C
Phosphorus is at the center with three single bonds to bromine atoms and no lone pairs on phosphorus.
D
Phosphorus is at the center with three single bonds to bromine atoms and one lone pair on phosphorus.
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the central atom in PBr_3, which is phosphorus (P), because it is less electronegative than bromine (Br) and can form multiple bonds.
Determine the total number of valence electrons available: phosphorus has 5 valence electrons, and each bromine has 7 valence electrons. Since there are three bromine atoms, total valence electrons = 5 + 3 × 7 = 26 electrons.
Draw single bonds between phosphorus and each bromine atom. Each single bond uses 2 electrons, so 3 bonds use 6 electrons, leaving 20 electrons to be distributed as lone pairs.
Distribute the remaining electrons to satisfy the octet rule for bromine atoms first, placing three lone pairs (6 electrons) on each bromine atom. This accounts for 18 electrons (3 bromines × 6 electrons each).
Assign the remaining electrons to phosphorus as lone pairs. After bonding and satisfying bromine octets, phosphorus will have one lone pair, completing its octet with three single bonds and one lone pair.
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