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 best describes the Lewis dot structure of neutral NBr3?

Nitrogen is at the center with three single bonds to bromine atoms and one lone pair on nitrogen.

Nitrogen is at the center with three double bonds to bromine atoms and no lone pairs on nitrogen.

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

Nitrogen is at the center with three single bonds to bromine atoms and no lone pairs on nitrogen.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons for the molecule NBr3. Nitrogen (N) has 5 valence electrons, and each bromine (Br) atom has 7 valence electrons. Since there are three bromine atoms, calculate the total valence electrons as: $5 + 3 \times 7$.

Step 2: Place nitrogen as the central atom because it is less electronegative than bromine and can form multiple bonds. Connect each bromine atom to nitrogen with a single bond initially. Each single bond represents 2 electrons.

Step 3: Distribute the remaining valence electrons to satisfy the octet rule for the bromine atoms first. Each bromine needs 8 electrons around it (including bonding electrons). Add lone pairs to bromine atoms as needed.

Step 4: After satisfying bromine atoms, place any leftover electrons on the nitrogen atom as lone pairs. Check if nitrogen has a complete octet (8 electrons total, counting bonding and lone pairs).

Step 5: Confirm the Lewis structure by verifying that the total number of electrons used equals the total valence electrons calculated in Step 1, and that all atoms have a full octet where applicable.