Draw an electron-dot structure for phosphorus pentachloride, [latex]PCl_{5}[/latex] STRATEGY Follow the steps outlined in the text. First, count the total number of valence electrons. Phosphorus has 5, and each chlorine has 7, for a total of 40. Next, decide on the connections between atoms, and draw a line to indicate each bond. Because chlorine normally forms only one bond, it’s likely in the case of [latex]PCl_{5}[/latex] that all five chlorines are bonded to a central phosphorus atom, which expands its valence shell: [latex]\begin{matrix}\underset{|}{Cl}\\ Cl \ _{_{\diagdown }}\quad\quad _{_{\diagup }}Cl \\ P\\ Cl \ ^{^{/ }}\quad\quad ^{^{\setminus}}Cl\end{matrix} [/latex] Ten of the 40 valence electrons are necessary for the five P–Cl bonds, leaving 30 to be distributed so that each chlorine has an octet. All 30 remaining valence electrons are used in this step.

Question 7.6: Draw an electron-dot structure for phosphorus pentachloride,......

Draw an electron-dot structure for phosphorus pentachloride, $PCl_{5}$

STRATEGY

Follow the steps outlined in the text. First, count the total number of valence electrons. Phosphorus has 5, and each chlorine has 7, for a total of 40. Next, decide on the connections between atoms, and draw a line to indicate each bond. Because chlorine normally forms only one bond, it’s likely in the case of $PCl_{5}$ that all five chlorines are bonded to a central phosphorus atom, which expands its valence shell:

\begin{matrix}\underset{|}{Cl}\\ Cl \ _{_{\diagdown }}\quad\quad _{_{\diagup }}Cl \\ P\\ Cl \ ^{^{/ }}\quad\quad ^{^{\setminus}}Cl\end{matrix}

Ten of the 40 valence electrons are necessary for the five P–Cl bonds, leaving 30 to be distributed so that each chlorine has an octet. All 30 remaining valence electrons are used in this step.

Step-by-Step

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