Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound BCl_3?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
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Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound PF5?
A
Phosphorus is surrounded by three fluorine atoms and has two lone pairs.
B
Phosphorus is surrounded by four fluorine atoms and has one lone pair.
C
Phosphorus is surrounded by five fluorine atoms, with no lone pairs on phosphorus.
D
Phosphorus is surrounded by five fluorine atoms and has one lone pair.
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that the Lewis dot structure represents the valence electrons of atoms in a molecule, showing bonds and lone pairs explicitly.
Determine the total number of valence electrons: Phosphorus (P) has 5 valence electrons, and each Fluorine (F) has 7 valence electrons. Since there are 5 fluorine atoms, total valence electrons = 5 (from P) + 5 × 7 (from F) = 40 electrons.
Recognize that phosphorus can expand its octet because it is in period 3 of the periodic table, allowing it to have more than 8 electrons around it.
Arrange phosphorus in the center and connect it to five fluorine atoms with single bonds. Each bond accounts for 2 electrons, so 5 bonds use 10 electrons.
Distribute the remaining electrons to complete the octets of the fluorine atoms as lone pairs. Since all valence electrons are used in bonding and lone pairs on fluorines, phosphorus has no lone pairs and is surrounded by five fluorine atoms.
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