Lewis Structure of PBr5 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!)

Ready to learn how to draw the lewis structure of PBr5?

Awesome!

Here, I have explained 5 simple steps to draw the lewis dot structure of PBr5 (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 PBr5 contains five single bonds between the Phosphorus (P) atom and each Bromine (Br) atom. The Phosphorus atom (P) is at the center and it is surrounded by 5 Bromine atoms (Br). The Phosphorus atom does not have a lone pair while all the 5 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 PBr5).

5 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of PBr5

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is PBr5 (Phosphorus pentabromide). In order to draw the lewis structure of PBr5, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the PBr5 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 PBr5

• For Phosphorus: 

Phosphorus is a group 15 element on the periodic table. ^[1]

Hence, the valence electrons present in phosphorus is 5 (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 PBr5 molecule, 

Valence electrons given by Phosphorus (P) atom = 5
Valence electrons given by each Bromine (Br) atom = 7
So, total number of Valence electrons in PBr5 molecule = 5 + 7(5) = 40

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 PBr5 molecule, if we compare the phosphorus atom (P) and bromine atom (Br), then the phosphorus is less electronegative than bromine.

So, phosphorus should be placed in the center and the remaining 5 bromine atoms will surround it.

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

Now in the above sketch of a PBr5 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each phosphorus atom and bromine atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

These pairs of electrons present between the Phosphorus (P) and Bromine (Br) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the phosphorus and bromine atoms with each other in a PBr5 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 PBr5, the outer atoms are bromine atoms.

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

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

Also, all the 40 valence electrons of PBr5 molecule (as calculated in step #1) are used in the above structure. So there are no remaining electron pairs.

Hence there is no change in the above sketch of PBr5.

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 phosphorus atom (P) 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 Phosphorus:
  Valence electrons = 5 (as it is in group 15)
  Nonbonding electrons = 0
  Bonding electrons = 10

• 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
P	=	5	–	0	–	10/2	=	0
Br	=	7	–	6	–	2/2	=	0

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

Hence, there will not be any change in the above structure and the above lewis structure of PBr5 is the final stable structure only.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of PBr5 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of PBr5 can also be represented as shown below.

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of SiS2
Lewis Structure of OCS
Lewis Structure of Br3-
Lewis Structure of H3O+
Lewis Structure of CH3NO2 

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