How do you draw the lewis structure for ph3?

1 Answer

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.

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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.