SAMPLE PROBLEM 10.5
Writing Lewis Structures for Exceptions to the Octet Rule
PLAN:
SOLUTION:
Draw the Lewis structures for the molecule and determine if there is an element that is an exception to the “octet rule”. Note that (a) contains P which is a Period-3 element and can have an expanded valence shell.
(a) H3PO4 has two resonance forms, and formal charges indicate the more important form.
-1
0
0
0
0
0
0
+1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
lower formal charges
more stable
(b) BFCl2 has only one Lewis structure.
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