Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

11. Bonding & Molecular Structure

Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds

General Chemistry

11. Bonding & Molecular Structure

Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the Lewis dot structure of a neutral PCl_3 molecule?

Phosphorus is at the center with three single bonds to chlorine atoms and one lone pair on phosphorus.

Phosphorus is at the center with three double bonds to chlorine atoms and no lone pairs on phosphorus.

Phosphorus is at the center with three single bonds to chlorine atoms and no lone pairs on phosphorus.

Phosphorus is at the center with three single bonds to chlorine atoms and one lone pair on each chlorine atom.

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the total number of valence electrons available for the molecule. Phosphorus (P) is in group 15 and has 5 valence electrons, and each chlorine (Cl) atom is in group 17 with 7 valence electrons. Since there are three chlorine atoms, calculate the total valence electrons as $5 + 3 \times 7$.

Step 2: Determine the central atom, which is usually the least electronegative element. In PCl$_3$, phosphorus is less electronegative than chlorine, so phosphorus will be the central atom.

Step 3: Draw single bonds between the central phosphorus atom and each of the three chlorine atoms. Each single bond represents 2 electrons shared between atoms.

Step 4: Distribute the remaining valence electrons to satisfy the octet rule for the chlorine atoms first, placing lone pairs on each chlorine to complete their octets.

Step 5: Place any leftover electrons on the central phosphorus atom as lone pairs. Check that phosphorus has a total of 8 electrons around it (including bonding and lone pairs) to satisfy the octet rule.