How do you draw the lewis structure for ph3?
1 Answer
Jan 5, 2014
Here are the steps that I follow when drawing a Lewis structure.
Decide which atom is the central atom in the structure. That will normally be the least electronegative atom (P).
Draw a skeleton structure in which the other atoms are single-bonded to the central atom — a P atom with three H atoms attached to it.
Draw a trial structure by putting electron pairs around every atom until each gets an octet.
Count the valence electrons in your trial structure (8).
Now, count the valence electrons you actually have available. 1 P + 3 H =
1×5 + 3×1 = 8.
The trial structure has exactly the same number of electrons as we have available. Therefore, the trial structure is the correct Lewis structure.
