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 Lewis dot structures correctly represents the covalent compound boron trichloride (BCl_3)?

A central B atom with three single bonds to three Cl atoms, each Cl atom having one lone pair, and the B atom having two lone pairs.

A central B atom with three single bonds to three Cl atoms, each Cl atom having two lone pairs, and the B atom having one lone pair.

A central B atom with three single bonds to three Cl atoms, each Cl atom having three lone pairs, and the B atom having no lone pairs.

A central B atom with three double bonds to three Cl atoms, each Cl atom having two lone pairs, and the B atom having no lone pairs.

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the total number of valence electrons available for bonding in BCl_3. Boron (B) has 3 valence electrons, and each chlorine (Cl) atom has 7 valence electrons. Since there are three Cl atoms, total valence electrons = 3 (from B) + 3 × 7 (from Cl) = 24 electrons.

Step 2: Determine the bonding framework. Boron is the central atom, and it forms bonds with the three chlorine atoms. Each bond is a pair of shared electrons (2 electrons per bond). For three single bonds, 3 × 2 = 6 electrons are used.

Step 3: Distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs. After forming the three B–Cl single bonds, subtract the bonding electrons from the total valence electrons: 24 - 6 = 18 electrons left. These electrons are placed as lone pairs on the chlorine atoms to complete their octets. Each Cl needs 3 lone pairs (6 electrons) to reach 8 electrons total (2 from bond + 6 from lone pairs).

Step 4: Check the boron atom's electron count. Boron has only 3 bonds (6 electrons) and no lone pairs. Boron is an exception to the octet rule and is stable with 6 electrons in its valence shell in this molecule.

Step 5: Evaluate the given options based on the above reasoning. The correct Lewis structure has a central B atom with three single bonds to three Cl atoms, each Cl atom having three lone pairs, and the B atom having no lone pairs.