Lewis Structure of BrCl3 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!)

Lewis Structure of BrCl3

Ready to learn how to draw the lewis structure of BrCl3?

Awesome!

Here, I have explained 5 simple steps to draw the lewis dot structure of BrCl3 (along with images).

So, if you are ready to go with these 5 simple steps, then let’s dive right into it!

Lewis structure of BrCl3 contains three single bonds between the Bromine (Br) atom and each Chlorine (Cl) atom. The Bromine atom (Br) is at the center and it is surrounded by 3 Chlorine atoms (Cl). The Bromine atom has 2 lone pairs and all the three Chlorine atoms have 3 lone pairs.

Let’s draw and understand this lewis dot structure step by step.

(Note: Take a pen and paper with you and try to draw this lewis structure along with me. I am sure you will definitely learn how to draw lewis structure of BrCl3).

6 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of BrCl3

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is BrCl3. In order to draw the lewis structure of BrCl3, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the BrCl3 molecule.
(Valence electrons are the number of electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom).

So, let’s calculate this first.

Calculation of valence electrons in BrCl3 

  • For Bromine:

Bromine is a group 17 element on the periodic table. [1]

Hence, the valence electrons present in bromine is 7 (see below image).

  • For Chlorine:

Chlorine is a group 17 element on the periodic table. [2]

Hence, the valence electron present in chlorine is 7 (see below image).

Hence in a BrCl3 molecule, 

Valence electrons given by Bromine (Br) atom = 7
Valence electrons given by each CHlorine (Cl) atom = 7
So, total number of Valence electrons in BrCl3 molecule = 7 + 7(3) = 28

Step #2: Select the center atom

While selecting the atom, always put the least electronegative atom at the center. 

(Remember: Fluorine is the most electronegative element on the periodic table and the electronegativity decreases as we move right to left in the periodic table as well as top to bottom in the periodic table). [3]

Here in the BrCl3 molecule, if we compare the bromine atom (Br) and chlorine atom (Cl), then the bromine is less electronegative than chlorine.

So, bromine should be placed in the center and the remaining 3 chlorine atoms will surround it.

step 1

Step #3: Put two electrons between the atoms to represent a chemical bond

Now in the above sketch of BrCl3 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each bromine atom and chlorine atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

step 2

These pairs of electrons present between the Bromine (Br) and Chlorine (Cl) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the bromine and chlorine atoms with each other in a BrCl3 molecule.

Step #4: Complete the octet (or duplet) on outside atoms. If the valence electrons are left, then put the valence electrons pair on the central atom

Don’t worry, I’ll explain!

In the Lewis structure of BrCl3, the outer atoms are chlorine atoms.

So now, you have to complete the octet on these chlorine atoms (because chlorine requires 8 electrons to have a complete outer shell).

step 3

Now, you can see in the above image that all the chlorine atoms form an octet.

Also, only 24 valence electrons of BrCl3 molecule are used in the above structure.

But there are total 28 valence electrons in BrCl3 molecule (as calculated in step #1).

So the number of electrons left to be kept on the central atom = 28 – 24 = 4.

So let’s keep these four electrons (i.e 2 electron pairs) on the central atom.

step 4

Now, let’s move to the next step.

Step #5: Final step – Check the stability of lewis structure by calculating the formal charge on each atom

Now, you have come to the final step and here you have to check the formal charge on bromine atom (Br) as well as each chlorine atom (Cl).

For that, you need to remember the formula of formal charge;

Formal charge = Valence electrons – Nonbonding electrons – (Bonding electrons)/2

step 5
  • For Bromine:
    Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
    Nonbonding electrons = 4
    Bonding electrons = 6
  • For Chlorine:
    Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
    Nonbonding electrons = 6
    Bonding electrons = 2
Formal charge=Valence electronsNonbonding electrons(Bonding electrons)/2
Br=746/2=0
Cl=762/2=0

So you can see above that the formal charges on bromine as well as chlorine are “zero”.

Hence, there will not be any change in the above structure and the above lewis structure of BrCl3 is the final stable structure only.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of BrCl3 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of BrCl3 can also be represented as shown below.

brcl3 lewis structure

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of NO2Cl
Lewis Structure of TeF4
Lewis Structure of ClF
Lewis Structure of SO
Lewis Structure of XeCl2 


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Jay is an educator and has helped more than 100,000 students in their studies by providing simple and easy explanations on different science-related topics. With a desire to make learning accessible for everyone, he founded Knords Learning, an online learning platform that provides students with easily understandable explanations.

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