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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: proteekrosul on September 14, 2020, 05:32:26 AM

Title: Lone pairs of electrons
Post by: proteekrosul on September 14, 2020, 05:32:26 AM
In Phosphorus trichloride (PCl3), the central phosphorus atom has 3 bond pairs of electrons and 1 non-bonding pair of electrons. The 3 Chlorine atoms have 3 non-bonding pairs of electrons each. So does that mean the compound PCl3 has 1+3*3 = 10 lone pairs of electrons in total, or do we just count the lone pairs of the central atom (Phosphorus in this case)?
Title: Re: Lone pairs of electrons
Post by: chenbeier on September 14, 2020, 05:39:30 AM
You count die lone pair of the atom you looking for. P has 1, each  chlorine has 3. To react with more chlorine or oxygen die lone pair of phosphorous is important.