Lewis structure of Br2

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The Lewis structure of Br₂ contains a single bond between the two bromine atoms, and each bromine atom has three lone pairs.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of Br₂.

#1 Draw skeleton
#2 Show chemical bond
#3 Mark lone pairs
#4 Calculate formal charge and check stability (if octet is already completed on central atom)

Let’s one by one discuss each step in detail.

#1 Draw skeleton

In this step, first calculate the total number of valence electrons. And then, decide the central atom.

• Let’s calculate the total number of valence electrons

We know that… bromine is a group 17 element. Hence, bromine has seven valence electrons.

Now Br₂ has two bromine atoms.

So the total number of valence electrons = valence electrons of bromine atom × 2

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 7 × 2 = 14

• Now decide the central atom

There are two bromine atoms in Br₂. Hence, we can assume any one as the central atom. Let’s assume that right bromine is the central atom.

So now, put two bromines next to each other. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of Br₂ something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of H₂Se (4 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

Place two electrons between the atoms to show a chemical bond as follows:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of COF₂ (5 steps)

#3 Mark lone pairs

As calculated earlier, we have a total of 14 valence electrons. And in the above structure, we have already used two valence electrons. Hence, twelve valence electrons are remaining.

Two valence electrons represent one lone pair. So twelve valence electrons = six lone pairs.

Note that bromine is a period 4 element, so it can keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell.

Also, make sure that you start marking these lone pairs on outside atoms first. And then, on the central atom.

The outside atom is left bromine, so left bromine will get three lone pairs. And the central atom (right bromine) will also get three lone pairs.

So the Lewis structure of Br₂ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on the central atom (right bromine), and also on the outside atom. Therefore, the octet rule is satisfied.

After completing the octet, one last thing we need to do is, calculate the formal charge and check the stability of the above structure.

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of NO₂F (5 steps)

#4 Calculate formal charge and check stability

The following formula is used to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

Formal charge = valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons

Collect the data from the above structure and then, write it down below as follows:

• For each bromine atom

Valence electrons = 7
Nonbonding electrons = 6
Bonding electrons = 2

Formal charge = 7 – 6 – ½ (2) = 0

Mention the formal charges of atoms on the structure. So the Lewis structure of Br₂ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both bromines are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of Br₂.

And each horizontal line drawn in the above structure represents a pair of bonding valence electrons.

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Related

• Lewis structure of H₂Se
• Lewis structure of COF₂
• Lewis structure of NO₂F
• Lewis structure of SiBr₄
• Lewis structure of CH₃NO₂

External links

• Chemical Bonding: Br2 Lewis Structure – The Geoexchange
• Br2 Lewis Structure in 6 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• Bromine (Br2) Molecule Lewis Structure – Chemistry School
• What is the Lewis dot structure for br2? – Quora
• Draw the Lewis structure for Br2 – Homework.Study.com
• Br2 Lewis Structure, Molecular Geometry, Hybridization, and MO Diagram – Techiescientist
• Two electrons are shared equally in bromine (Br2). What type of bond is represented between the bromine atoms in this Lewis structure? – Brainly
• Br2 Molecular Geometry – Science Education and Tutorials
• Write a Lewis structure for Br2 that obeys the octet rule – Numerade
• What is the correct Lewis Structure for Br2? – Chegg
• What is the electron dot structure for Br2 – Wyzant