Question #12162

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
Mar 3, 2017

There are 17 lone pairs in one molecule of #"P"_4"O"_7#.

Explanation:

The structure of tetraphosphorus heptoxide, #"P"_4"O"_7#, is

img1.guidechem.com

Each #"O"# atom has 2 lone pairs, and each single-bonded #"P"# atom has 1 lone pair.

Thus

#"Number of lone pairs"#

#= 7 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("O atoms"))) × "2 lone pairs"/(1 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("O atom")))) + 3 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("P atoms"))) × "1 lone pair"/(1 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("P atom")))) = "17 lone pairs"#

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