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

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with General Chemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the correct Lewis dot structure for the neutral compound PBr_3?

A phosphorus atom with three single bonds to three bromine atoms, and two lone pairs on phosphorus; each bromine atom has two lone pairs.

A phosphorus atom with three double bonds to three bromine atoms, and no lone pairs on phosphorus; each bromine atom has two lone pairs.

A phosphorus atom with three single bonds to three bromine atoms, and no lone pairs on phosphorus; each bromine atom has three lone pairs.

A phosphorus atom with three single bonds to three bromine atoms, and one lone pair on phosphorus; each bromine atom has three lone pairs.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons in PBr_3. Phosphorus (P) has 5 valence electrons, and each bromine (Br) atom has 7 valence electrons. Since there are three bromine atoms, calculate the total as: $5 + 3 \times 7$.

Step 2: Draw the skeletal structure with phosphorus as the central atom bonded to three bromine atoms. Connect each Br to P with a single bond, which uses 2 electrons per bond.

Step 3: Subtract the electrons used in bonding from the total valence electrons to find the number of remaining electrons to be placed as lone pairs.

Step 4: Assign lone pairs to the bromine atoms first to complete their octets. Each bromine needs 8 electrons total (including bonding electrons), so add lone pairs accordingly.

Step 5: Place any remaining electrons as lone pairs on the phosphorus atom. Check that phosphorus has a complete octet (or expanded octet if applicable) and that the total number of electrons matches the total valence electrons calculated.