AsO33- Lewis structure

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AsO₃^3- has one arsenic atom and three oxygen atoms.

In AsO₃^3- Lewis structure, there are three single bonds around the arsenic atom, with three oxygen atoms attached to it. Each oxygen atom has three lone pairs, and the arsenic atom has one lone pair.

Also, there is a negative (-1) charge on each oxygen atom.

Steps

Use these steps to correctly draw the AsO₃^3- 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, arsenic lies in group 15, and oxygen lies in group 16.

Hence, arsenic has five valence electrons and oxygen has six valence electrons.

Since AsO₃^3- has one arsenic atom and three oxygen atoms, so…

Valence electrons of one arsenic atom = 5 × 1 = 5
Valence electrons of three oxygen atoms = 6 × 3 = 18

Now the AsO₃^3- has a negative (-3) charge, so we have to add three more electrons.

So the total valence electrons = 5 + 18 + 3 = 26

Learn how to find: Arsenic valence electrons and Oxygen 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 arsenic is less electronegative than oxygen, assume that the central atom is arsenic.

Therefore, place arsenic in the center and oxygens 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 As — O bonds are already marked. So we have to only mark the remaining ten electron pairs as lone pairs on the sketch.

Also remember that arsenic is a period 4 element, so it can keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell. And oxygen is a period 2 element, so it can not keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell.

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

So for each oxygen, there are three lone pairs, and for arsenic, 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 arsenic atom, formal charge = 5 – 2 – ½ (6) = 0

For each oxygen atom, formal charge = 6 – 6 – ½ (2) = -1

Here, each oxygen atom has a charge, so mark it on the sketch as follows:

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

Now there is still a negative (-1) charge on each oxygen atom.

This is okay, because the structure with a negative charge on the most electronegative atom is the best Lewis structure. And in this case, the most electronegative element is oxygen.

Therefore, this structure is the most stable Lewis structure of AsO₃^3-.

And since the AsO₃^3- has a negative (-3) charge, mention that charge on the Lewis structure by drawing brackets as follows:

Next: C₄H₆ Lewis structure

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External video

• AsO3 3- Lewis Structure: How to Draw the Lewis Structure for AsO3 3- – YouTube • Wayne Breslyn

External links

• https://www.thegeoexchange.org/chemistry/bonding/Lewis-Structures/AsO3-3-lewis-structure.html
• https://homework.study.com/explanation/draw-lewis-structure-for-aso-3-3.html
• https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/complete-lewis-dot-structure-aso-33-complete-molecule-connecting-arsenic-oxygen-atoms-appr-q61969412
• https://brainly.com/question/29612876