The phosphorus trichloride chemical formula is PCl3. Drawing PCl3 Lewis Structure is very easy to by using the following method. Here in this post, we described step by step method to construct PCl3 Lewis Structure. The phosphorus and chlorine elements come as the member of the nitrogen and halogen family groups from the periodic table respectively. The valence electrons in phosphorus and chlorine are five and seven respectively. The branch of phosphorus halogen compound chemistry is used to make chemicals reagents for organic chemical reactions.
Key Points To Consider When Drawing The PCl3 Electron Dot Structure
A three-step approach for drawing the PCl3 Lewis structure can be used. The first step is to sketch the Lewis structure of the PCl3 molecule, to add valence electrons around the phosphorus atom; the second step is to add valence electrons to the three chlorine atoms, and the final step is to combine the step1 and step2 to get the PCl3 Lewis Structure.
The PCl3 Lewis structure is a diagram that illustrates the number of valence electrons and bond electron pairs in the PCl3 molecule. The geometry of the PCl3 molecule can then be predicted using the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (VSEPR Theory), which states that molecules will choose the PCl3 geometrical shape in which the electrons have from one another.
Finally, you must add their bond polarities to compute the strength of the three P-Cl single bonds (dipole moment properties of the PCl3 molecule). The phosphorus-chlorine bonds in phosphorus trichloride(PCl3), for example, are polarised toward the more electronegative chlorine in PCl3 molecule, and because both bonds have the same size and are located around three chlorine terminals of the trigonal pyramidal with one lone pair (in total two electrons) on the phosphorus atom, their sum of dipole moment is nonzero due to the PCl3 molecule’s bond dipole moment and more electron polarity to the chlorine atoms. Because each three P-Cl bonds polarity not canceled each other in the PCl3 molecule due to the presence of one lone pair of electrons. The phosphorus trichloride(PCl3) molecule is classified as a polar molecule.
The molecule of phosphorus trichloride (with trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry) is tilted, the bond angles between phosphorus and chlorine are 100 degrees. It has a difference in electronegativity values between phosphorus and chlorine atoms, with central phosphorus’s pull being less than terminal chlorine’s in the PCl3 molecule. But they not canceled each other due to the asymmetrical trigonal pyramidal with one lone pair in the molecular geometry of the PCl3 molecule.
As a result, it has the nonzero dipole moment. The PCl3 molecule has a nonzero dipole moment due to an unequal charge distribution of negative and positive charges. But both phosphorus and chlorine atoms fall on the nitrogen and halogen family groups in the periodic table respectively. The chlorine atom is a more electronegative value than phosphorus in the PCl3 molecule. The PCl3 molecule has the net dipole moment of 0.97D value in the ground state energy state.
PCl3 molecule has three P-Cl single bonds. Its dipole moment in the ground state is totally different as compared with the excited state. If it absorbs light may be from visible or UV light. It undergoes pi to pi star and n to pi star transition from ground state energy level to excited state energy level. In the excited state energy level, the PCl3 molecule shows a definite dipole moment. But it is very dynamics.
Molecules can be classified as polar or nonpolar. The molecule polar behaves in a different manner as compared to nonpolar.
Overview: PCl3 Lewis Structure
The central atom is phosphorus, which is bordered on three terminals with chlorine atoms( in trigonal pyramidal geometry), and one lone pair on the central phosphorus atom in the trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry. Phosphorus has five outermost valence electrons, indicating that it possesses five electrons in its outermost shell, whereas chlorine also has seven valence electrons in its outermost shell. To complete the octet of the phosphorus and chlorine atoms requires three and one valence electrons on each of their outermost shell respectively.
Three chlorine atoms establish covalent connections with the central phosphorus atom as a result, leaving the phosphorus atom with one lone pair. There is one lone pair of electrons on the phosphorus central atom that resists the bond pairs of the three P-Cl bonds. According to VSEPR theory, the single P-Cl bond pairs polarity lead the PCl3 molecule to take on the trigonal pyramidal geometry structure.
The PCl3 molecule’s three P-Cl bonds are arranged in symmetrical polarity order around the trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry, giving rise to the PCl3 molecular shape. The PCl3 molecule has a trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry because there is an electrical repulsion between the lone pairs of electrons in phosphorus and three single bond pairs(P-Cl) of the PCl3 molecule.
Lewis structure of PCl3 has dot electron representative structure. Valence electrons of atoms undergo orbitals mixing in the chemical reactions, gives new types of molecular species of PCl3. The molecule is nothing but a bundle of valence electrons from the atoms. But it is converted to bond pairs and lone pairs in the molecular structure.
Electronegative value Difference Calculation of PCl3 Molecule:
Phosphorus and chlorine Electronegative difference in PCl3:
The phosphorus atom has an electronegativity of 2.19, while chlorine has an electronegativity of 3.16 in the PCl3 molecule. The difference in electronegativity of phosphorus and chlorine can be estimated using the method below.
The electronegative value difference between phosphorus and chlorine in PCl3 molecule
Electronegativity value of phosphorus = 2.19
Electronegativity value of chlorine= 3.16
Difference of electronegativity value between phosphorus and chlorine in PCl3 molecule = 3.16 – 2.19 = 0.97
Electronegativity difference between P-Cl bond calculation of PCl3 molecule
The electronegative difference between phosphorus and chlorine is greater than 0.5. This indicated the bond polarity moves near to polar nature. P-Cl bond polarity in the PCl3 molecule is polar.
Because of this difference in electronegativity of phosphorus and chlorine atoms, the PCl3 molecule’s P-Cl bond becomes polar. The total net dipole moment of the PCl3 molecule is nonzero due to the noncancellation of the bond dipole moment in the trigonal pyramidal geometry. The electronegativity of an atom is the strength with which it may attract bound electron pairs to its side. The polarity of PCl3 is discussed in our previous post.
As a result, the P-Cl bond’s dipole moment is high due to the polarization of the bonds and one lone pair of electrons on phosphorus, and all P-Cl bonds’ dipoles are arranged in the asymmetrical PCl3 molecular geometry. The PCl3 molecule has a nonzero net dipole moment.
The electron dot structure of the PCl3 molecule is also known as the PCl3 Lewis structure. It determines the number of outermost valence electrons as well as the electrons engaged in the PCl3 molecule’s bond formation. The outermost valence electrons of the PCl3 molecule must be understood while considering the Lewis structure of the molecule.
The phosphorus atom is the middle element in PCl3 molecular geometry, with five electrons in its outermost valence electron shell, whereas the chlorine atom has seven electrons in its outermost valence electron shell. The chlorine atom has seven valence electrons.
The PCl3 has a total of 26 valence electrons as a result of the foregoing above-said reasoning. With the core central phosphorus atom, the three terminals with three chlorine atoms form covalent bonds, leaving the phosphorus atom with one lone pair in the middle of trigonal pyramidal geometry.
Because lone pairs on the terminal chlorine atoms create interaction with P-Cl bond pairs(but it is negligible in the ground state of the PCl3 molecule). The bond angle of the Cl-P-Cl bond in the trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry is approximately 100 degrees. This angle is less than the CH4 molecule bond angle. The P-Cl bond length is 207pm(picometer).
To sketch the PCl3 Lewis structure by following these instructions:
Step-1: PCl3 Lewis dot Structure by counting valence electrons on the phosphorus atom
To calculate the valence electron of each atom in PCl3, look for its periodic group from the periodic table. The nitrogen and halogen group families, which are the 15th and 17th groups in the periodic table, are both made up of phosphorus and chlorine atoms respectively. In their outermost shells, chlorine and phosphorus have seven and five valence electrons respectively.
Calculate the total number of valence electrons in the PCl3 molecule’s outermost valence shell. The first step is to determine how many electrons are in the PCl3 Lewis structure’s outermost valence shell. An electron in an atom’s outermost shell is known as a valence electron. It is represented by dots in the PCl3 Lewis diagram. The PCl3 molecule’s core phosphorus atom can be represented as follows:
Total outermost valence shell electron of phosphorus atom in PCl3= 5
Total outermost valence shell electron of chlorine atom in PCl3= 7
The PCl3 molecule has one central phosphorus and three chlorine atoms. Then the total outermost valence shell electrons can be calculated as follows
∴ Total outermost valence shell electrons available for PCl3 Lewis structure( dot structure) = 5+3*7= 26 valence electrons in PCl3.
calculation of total valence electron of PCl3 molecule
Choose the atom with the least electronegative value atom and insert it in the center of the molecular geometry of PCl3. We’ll choose the least electronegative value atom in the PCl3 molecule to place in the center of the PCl3 Lewis structure diagram in this phase. The electronegativity value in periodic groups grows from left to right in the periodic table and drops from top to bottom.
The first step is to put five valence electrons around the phosphorus atom as given in the figure.
Step-2: Lewis Structure of PCl3 for counting valence electrons around the terminal chlorine atoms
As a result, phosphorus is the first atom in the periodic table’s nitrogen family group. Chlorine is the second member of the halogen family. The electronegative value of the chlorine atom is higher than that of the phosphorus atom in the PCl3 molecule. Furthermore, chlorine has a seven electrons limit since phosphorus is the less electronegative element in the PCl3 molecule.
In the PCl3 Lewis structure diagram, the phosphorus atom can be the center atom of the molecule. As a result, central phosphorus in the PCl3 Lewis structure, with all three chlorine atoms arranged in a trigonal pyramidal geometry.
Add valence electrons around the chlorine atom, as given in the figure.
Step-3: Lewis dot Structure for PCl3 generated from step-1 and step-2
Connect the exterior and core central atom of the PCl3 molecule with three single P-Cl bonds. In this stage, use three chlorine atoms on the outside of the PCl3 molecule to the central phosphorus atom in the middle.
Count how many electrons from the outermost valence shell have been used in the PCl3 structure so far. Each P-Cl single bond carries two electrons because each phosphorus atom is connected to three chlorine atoms by three P-Cl single bonds. Bond pairings of P-Cl are what they’re called.
So, out of the total of 26 valence electrons available for the PCl3 Lewis structure, we used six electrons for the PCl3 molecule’s three P-Cl single bonds. The PCl3 molecule has one lone pair of electrons in the central phosphorus atom.
Place the valence electrons in the P-Cl bond pairs starting with the core phosphorus, three chlorine atoms in the PCl3 molecule. In the PCl3 Lewis structure diagram, we always begin by introducing valence electrons from the central phosphorus atom(in step1). As a result, wrap around the central phosphorus atom’s bond pair valence electrons first (see figure for step1).
The phosphorus atom in the molecule gets only 8 electrons around its molecular structure. This central phosphorus atom is octet stable. But it has one lone pair. Phosphorus is a brownish solid in nature. Phosphorus catch fire in the exposure to air. But phosphorus is used in matchboxes and firecrackers.
Chlorine(Cl2) is in the gaseous state at normal temperature and pressure. It is used as a chlorinating agent in the field of organic chemistry. It is a highly corrosive gas. It is responsible for dry corrosion in the metal bodies. It is very reactive to bio-micro organisms. It is also used as a disinfectant in water treatment plants.
Phosphorus requires 8 electrons in its outermost valence shell to complete the molecular octet stability, six electrons bond pairs in three P-Cl single bonds, and one lone pair in the central phosphorus atom. Then lone pair of electrons on the chlorine atoms of the PCl3 molecule is placed in a trigonal pyramidal geometry. Phosphorus already shares 8 electrons to the three P-Cl single bonds. Then place the valence electron in the chlorine atoms, it placed around seven electrons on each atom(step-2). 18 valence electrons were placed around three chlorine atoms as lone pairs of electrons.
We’ve positioned 18 electrons around the three-terminal chlorine atoms(step-3), which is represented by a dot, in the PCl3 molecular structure above. The phosphorus atom completes its molecular octet stability in the PCl3 molecule because it possesses six electrons in its (three P-Cl single bonds) bond pairs with three chlorine in the outermost valence shell.
Count how many outermost valence shell electrons have been used so far using the PCl3 Lewis structure. three electron bond pairs are shown as dots in the PCl3 chemical structure, whereas three single bonds each contain two electrons. The outermost valence shell electrons of the PCl3 molecule(bond pairs) are six as a result of the calculation. The total valence electron in a phosphorus atom is 8.
So far, we’ve used 26 of the PCl3 Lewis structure’s total 26 outermost valence shell electrons. One lone pair of electrons on the phosphorus atom in the trigonal pyramidal geometry of the PCl3 molecule.
Complete the middle phosphorus atom stability and, if necessary, apply a covalent bond. The central phosphorus atom undergoes octet stability(due to three single bond pairs of electrons).
The core atom in the PCl3 Lewis structure is phosphorus, which is bonded to the three chlorine atoms by single bonds (three P-Cl). With the help of three single bonds, it already shares 8 electrons. As a result, the phosphorus follows the octet rule and has 8 electrons surrounding it on the three terminals of the PCl3 molecule’s trigonal pyramidal geometry.
How to calculate the formal charge on phosphorus and Chlorine atoms in PCl3 Lewis Structure?
Calculating formal charge on the phosphorus of PCl3 molecule:
The formal charge on the PCl3 molecule’s phosphorus central atom often corresponds to the actual charge on that phosphorus central atom. In the following computation, the formal charge will be calculated on the central phosphorus atom of the PCl3 Lewis dot structure.
To calculate the formal charge on the central phosphorus atom of the PCl3 molecule by using the following formula:
The formal charge on the phosphorus atom of PCl3 molecule= (V. E(P)– L.E(P) – 1/2(B.E))
V.E (P) = Valence electron in a phosphorus atom of PCl3 molecule
L.E(P) = Lone pairs of an electron in the phosphorus atom of the PCl3 molecule.
B.E = Bond pair electron in P atom of PCl3 molecule
calculation of formal charge on phosphorus atom in PCl3 molecule
The phosphorus core atom (three single bonds connected to three chlorine atoms ) of the PCl3 molecule has five valence electrons, one lone pair of electrons(two electrons), and six bonding pairing valence electrons. Put these values for the phosphorus atom in the formula above.
Formal charge on phosphorus atom of PCl3 molecule = (5- 2-(6/2)) =0
In the Lewis structure of PCl3, the formal charge on the central phosphorus atom is zero.
Calculating formal charge on the chlorine atom of PCl3 molecule:
The formal charge on the PCl3 molecule’s chlorine terminal atoms often corresponds to the actual charge on that chlorine terminal atoms. In the following computation, the formal charge will be calculated on the terminal chlorine atom of the PCl3 Lewis dot structure.
To calculate the formal charge on the terminal chlorine atom of the PCl3 molecule by using the following formula:
The formal charge on the chlorine atom of PCl3 molecule= (V. E(Cl)– L.E(Cl) – 1/2(B.E))
V.E (Cl) = Valence electron in a chlorine atom of PCl3 molecule
L.E(Cl) = Lone pairs of an electron in the chlorine atom of the PCl3 molecule.
B.E = Bond pair electron in Cl atom of PCl3 molecule
calculation of formal charge on chlorine atom in PCl3 molecule
The chlorine terminal atoms of the PCl3 molecule have seven valence electrons, three lone pairs of electrons(six electrons), and two bonding pairing valence electrons(single bond). Put these values for the chlorine atom in the formula above.
Formal charge on chlorine atom of PCl3 molecule = (7- 6-(2/2)) =0
In the Lewis structure of PCl3, the formal charge on the terminal chlorine atom is zero.
Summary:
In this post, we discussed the method to construct the PCl3 Lewis structure. First, the valence electrons are placed around the phosphorus atom. Second, place the valence electron on the chlorine atoms. Finally, when we combined the first and second steps. It gives PCl3 Lewis structure. Need to remember that, if you follow the above-said method, you can construct molecular dot structure very easily.
What is the PCl3 Lewis structure?
PCl3 Lewis structure is dot representation
What is the formal charge on the PCl3 Lewis structure?
Zero charges on the PCl3 molecular structure
The polarity of the molecules
The polarity of the molecules are listed as follows
- Polarity of BeCl2
- Polarity of SF4
- Polarity of CH2Cl2
- Polarity of NH3
- Polarity of XeF4
- Polarity of BF3
- Polarity of NH4+
- Polarity of CHCl3
- Polarity of BrF3
- Polarity of BrF5
- Polarity of SO3
- Polarity of SCl2
- Polarity of PCl3
- Polarity of H2S
- Polarity of NO2+
- Polarity of HBr
- Polarity of HCl
- Polarity of CH3F
- Polarity of SO2
- Polarity of CH4
Lewis Structure and Molecular Geometry
Lewis structure and molecular geometry of molecules are listed below
- CH4 Lewis structure and CH4 Molecular geometry
- BeI2 Lewis Structure and BeI2 Molecular geometry
- SF4 Lewis Structure and SF4 Molecular geometry
- CH2I2 Lewis Structure and CH2I2 Molecular geometry
- NH3 Lewis Structure and NH3 Molecular geometry
- XeF4 Lewis Structure and XeF4 Molecular geometry
- BF3 Lewis Structure and BF3 Molecular geometry
- NH4+ Lewis Structure and NH4+ Molecular geometry
- CHCl3 Lewis Structure and CHCl3 Molecular geometry
- BrF3 Lewis Structure and BrF3 Molecular geometry
- BrF5 Lewis Structure and BrF5 Molecular geometry
- SO3 Lewis Structure and SO3 Molecular geometry
- SI2 Lewis structure and SI2 Molecular Geometry
- PCl3 Lewis structure and PCl3 Molecular Geometry
- H2S Lewis structure and H2S Molecular Geometry
- NO2+ Lewis structure and NO2+ Molecular Geometry
- HBr Lewis structure and HBr Molecular Geometry
- CS2 Lewis structure and CS2 Molecular Geometry
- CH3F Lewis structure and CH3F Molecular Geometry
- SO2 Lewis structure and SO2 Molecular Geometry
- HCl Lewis structure and HCl Molecular Geometry
- HF Lewis structure and HF Molecular Geometry
- HI Lewis structure and HI Molecular Geometry
- CO2 Lewis structure and CO2 Molecular Geometry
- SF2 Lewis structure and SF2 Molecular Geometry
- SBr2 Lewis structure and SBr2 Molecular Geometry
- SCl2 Lewis structure and SCl2 Molecular Geometry
- PF3 Lewis structure and PF3 Molecular Geometry
- PBr3 Lewis structure and PBr3 Molecular Geometry
- CH3Cl Lewis structure and CH3Cl Molecular Geometry
- CH3Br Lewis structure and CH3Br Molecular Geometry
- CH3I Lewis structure and CH3I Molecular Geometry
- SCl4 Lewis structure and SCl4Molecular Geometry
- SBr4 Lewis structure and SBr4 Molecular Geometry
- CH2F2 Lewis structure and CH2F2 Molecular Geometry
- CH2Br2 Lewis structure and CH2Br2 Molecular Geometry
- XeCl4 Lewis structure and XeCl4 Molecular Geometry
- BCl3 Lewis structure and BCl3 Molecular Geometry
- BBr3 Lewis structure and BBr3 Molecular Geometry
- CHF3 Lewis structure and CHF3 Molecular Geometry
- CHBr3 Lewis structure and CHBr3 Molecular Geometry
- ClF3 Lewis structure and ClF3 Molecular Geometry
- IF3 Lewis structure and IF3 Molecular Geometry
- ICl3 Lewis structure and ICl3 Molecular Geometry
- IBr3 Lewis structure and IBr3 Molecular Geometry
- ClF5 Lewis structure and ClF5 Molecular Geometry
- IF5 Lewis structure and IF5 Molecular Geometry
- PH3 Lewis structure and PH3 Molecular Geometry
- AsH3 Lewis structure and AsH3 Molecular Geometry
- AsCl3 Lewis structure and AsCl3 Molecular Geometry
- AsF3 Lewis structure and AsF3 Molecular Geometry
- NCl3 Lewis structure and NCl3 Molecular Geometry
- NF3 Lewis structure and NF3 Molecular Geometry
- NBr3 Lewis structure and NBr3 Molecular Geometry
- AlCl3 Lewis structure and AlCl3 Molecular Geometry
- AlF3 Lewis structure and AlF3 Molecular Geometry
- AlBr3 Lewis structure and AlBr3 Molecular Geometry
- CCl4 Lewis structure and CCl4 Molecular Geometry