Lewis Structure of ClBr3 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!)

Ready to learn how to draw the lewis structure of ClBr3?

Awesome!

Here, I have explained 5 simple steps to draw the lewis dot structure of ClBr3 (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 ClBr3 contains three single bonds between the Chlorine (Cl) atom and each Bromine (Br) atom. The Chlorine atom (Cl) is at the center and it is surrounded by 3 Bromine atoms (Br). The Chlorine atom has 2 lone pairs and all the three Bromine 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 ClBr3).

6 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of ClBr3

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is ClBr3. In order to draw the lewis structure of ClBr3, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the ClBr3 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 ClBr3

• For Chlorine:

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

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

• For Bromine:

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

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

Hence in a ClBr3 molecule, 

Valence electrons given by Chlorine (Cl) atom = 7
Valence electrons given by each Bromine (Br) atom = 7
So, total number of Valence electrons in ClBr3 molecule = 7 + 7(3) = 28

Step #2: Make the rough sketch

From the chemical formula itself, you can get the idea that a chlorine atom (Cl) is at the center which is surrounded by three Bromine (Br) atoms on the outer sides.

So let’s draw a rough sketch for the ClBr3 molecule.

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

Now in the above sketch of ClBr3 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each chlorine atom and bromine atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

These pairs of electrons present between the Chlorine (Cl) and Bromine (Br) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the chlorine and bromine atoms with each other in a ClBr3 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 ClBr3, the outer atoms are bromine atoms.

So now, you have to complete the octet on these bromine atoms.

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

Also, only 24 valence electrons of ClBr3 molecule are used in the above structure.

But there are total 28 valence electrons in ClBr3 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.

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 chlorine atom (Cl) as well as each bromine atom (Br).

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

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

• For Chlorine:
  Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
  Nonbonding electrons = 4
  Bonding electrons = 6
• For Bromine:
  Valence electron = 7 (as it is in group 17)
  Nonbonding electrons = 6
  Bonding electrons = 2

Formal charge	=	Valence electrons	–	Nonbonding electrons	–	(Bonding electrons)/2
Cl	=	7	–	4	–	6/2	=	0
Br	=	7	–	6	–	2/2	=	0

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

Hence, there will not be any change in the above structure and the above lewis structure of ClBr3 is the final stable structure only.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of ClBr3 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of ClBr3 can also be represented as shown below.

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of GeH4
Lewis Structure of FCN
Lewis Structure of HClO2
Lewis Structure of C2Cl4
Lewis Structure of CF3Cl 

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