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 statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound ClBr3?

Br is the central atom, surrounded by three Cl atoms, with two lone pairs on Br.

Br is the central atom, surrounded by three Cl atoms, with no lone pairs on Br.

Cl is the central atom, surrounded by three Br atoms, with no lone pairs on Cl.

Cl is the central atom, surrounded by three Br atoms, with two lone pairs on Cl.

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons for the compound ClBr3. Chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons, and bromine (Br) also has 7 valence electrons. Since there is one Cl and three Br atoms, calculate the total valence electrons as: $7 + 3 \times 7 = 28$ electrons.

Step 2: Identify the central atom. Generally, the least electronegative atom (excluding hydrogen) is the central atom. Between Cl and Br, bromine is slightly less electronegative, but both are halogens with similar electronegativity. Another factor is the number of atoms: since there are three Br atoms and one Cl atom, the atom with fewer atoms (Cl) is more likely to be central to minimize the number of bonds.

Step 3: Draw a skeleton structure with Cl as the central atom bonded to three Br atoms. Each bond represents 2 electrons, so 3 bonds use $3 \times 2 = 6$ electrons.

Step 4: Distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs to satisfy the octet rule. After bonding, subtract the bonding electrons from the total valence electrons: $28 - 6 = 22$ electrons left. Place lone pairs on the outer atoms (Br) first to complete their octets, then place any remaining electrons on the central atom (Cl).

Step 5: Check the formal charges and octet completion. Each Br atom should have three lone pairs (6 electrons) plus one bonding pair (2 electrons) to complete its octet. The central Cl atom will have two lone pairs (4 electrons) plus three bonding pairs (6 electrons), completing its octet with no formal charge. This confirms the correct Lewis structure has Cl as the central atom surrounded by three Br atoms, with two lone pairs on Cl.