PCl3 Lewis structure

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PCl₃ (phosphorus trichloride) has one phosphorus atom and three chlorine atoms.

In the PCl₃ Lewis structure, there are three single bonds around the phosphorus atom, with three chlorine atoms attached to it. Each chlorine atom has three lone pairs, and the phosphorus atom has one lone pair.

Steps

Use these steps to correctly draw the PCl₃ Lewis structure:

#1 First draw a rough sketch
#2 Mark lone pairs on the atoms
#3 Calculate and mark formal charges on the atoms, if required

Let’s discuss each step in more detail.

#1 First draw a rough sketch

• First, determine the total number of valence electrons

In the periodic table, phosphorus lies in group 15, and chlorine lies in group 17.

Hence, phosphorus has five valence electrons and chlorine has seven valence electrons.

Since PCl₃ has one phosphorus atom and three chlorine atoms, so…

Valence electrons of one phosphorus atom = 5 × 1 = 5
Valence electrons of three chlorine atoms = 7 × 3 = 21

And the total valence electrons = 5 + 21 = 26

Learn how to find: Phosphorus valence electrons and Chlorine valence electrons

• Second, find the total electron pairs

We have a total of 26 valence electrons. And when we divide this value by two, we get the value of total electron pairs.

Total electron pairs = total valence electrons ÷ 2

So the total electron pairs = 26 ÷ 2 = 13

• Third, determine the central atom

We have to place the least electronegative atom at the center.

Since phosphorus is less electronegative than chlorine, assume that the central atom is phosphorus.

Therefore, place phosphorus in the center and chlorines on either side.

• And finally, draw the rough sketch

#2 Mark lone pairs on the atoms

Here, we have a total of 13 electron pairs. And three P — Cl bonds are already marked. So we have to only mark the remaining ten electron pairs as lone pairs on the sketch.

Also remember that both (phosphorus and chlorine) are the period 3 elements, so they can keep more than 8 electrons in their last shell.

Always start to mark the lone pairs from outside atoms. Here, the outside atoms are chlorines.

So for each chlorine, there are three lone pairs, and for phosphorus, there is one lone pair.

Mark the lone pairs on the sketch as follows:

#3 Calculate and mark formal charges on the atoms, if required

Use the following formula to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

Formal charge = valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons

For phosphorus atom, formal charge = 5 – 2 – ½ (6) = 0

For each chlorine atom, formal charge = 7 – 6 – ½ (2) = 0

Here, both phosphorus and chlorine atoms do not have charges, so no need to mark the charges.

In the above structure, you can see that the central atom (phosphorus) forms an octet. And the outside atoms (chlorines) also form an octet. Hence, the octet rule is satisfied.

Therefore, this structure is the stable Lewis structure of PCl₃.

Next: BCl₃ Lewis structure

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External links

• https://www.chemistryscl.com/general/PCl3-lewis-structure/
• https://techiescientist.com/pcl3-lewis-structure/
• https://geometryofmolecules.com/pcl3-lewis-structure-bond-angles-and-hybridization/
• https://topblogtenz.com/pcl3-lewis-structure-molecular-geometry-bond-angle-hybridization/
• https://lambdageeks.com/pcl3-lewis-structure/
• https://www.thegeoexchange.org/chemistry/bonding/Lewis-Structures/PCl3-lewis-structure.html