Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the electron domain geometry and molecular geometry of PH3 (phosphine) based on its Lewis dot structure?
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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 NBr3?
A
Nitrogen is at the center with three single bonds to bromine atoms and one lone pair on nitrogen.
B
Nitrogen is at the center with three single bonds to bromine atoms and no lone pairs on nitrogen.
C
Nitrogen is at the center with three double bonds to bromine atoms and no lone pairs on nitrogen.
D
Bromine is at the center with three single bonds to nitrogen atoms and one lone pair on bromine.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the central atom in NBr3. Generally, the less electronegative atom is placed at the center. Between nitrogen (N) and bromine (Br), nitrogen is less electronegative, so nitrogen will be the central atom.
Step 2: Determine the total number of valence electrons. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons, and each bromine has 7 valence electrons. Since there are three bromine atoms, total valence electrons = 5 + 3 × 7 = 26 electrons.
Step 3: Draw single bonds between the central nitrogen atom and each bromine atom. Each single bond uses 2 electrons, so 3 bonds use 6 electrons, leaving 20 electrons to be distributed as lone pairs.
Step 4: Complete the octets of the bromine atoms by placing lone pairs around each bromine. Each bromine needs 6 more electrons (3 lone pairs) to complete its octet, using 18 electrons in total.
Step 5: Place the remaining electrons on the nitrogen atom as lone pairs. After bonding and completing bromine octets, nitrogen will have one lone pair to complete its octet, resulting in nitrogen bonded to three bromines with one lone pair on nitrogen.
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