Lewis structure of BrF3

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The Lewis structure of BrF₃ contains three single bonds, with bromine in the center, and three fluorines on either side. There are three lone pairs on each fluorine atom, and two lone pairs on the bromine atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of BrF₃:

#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… both bromine and fluorine are the group 17 elements. Hence, both bromine and fluorine have seven valence electrons.

Now BrF₃ has one bromine atom and three fluorine atoms.

So the total number of valence electrons = valence electrons of bromine atom + (valence electrons of fluorine atom × 3)

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 7 + 21 = 28

• Now decide the central atom

The atom with the least electronegative value is placed at the center. By looking at the periodic table, we get the electronegativity values for bromine and fluorine as follows:

Electronegativity value of bromine = 2.96
Electronegativity value of fluorine = 3.98

Obviously, bromine is less electronegative than fluorine. Hence, assume that bromine is the central atom.

So now, put bromine in the center and fluorines on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of BrF₃ something like this:

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

#2 Show chemical bond

Place two electrons between the atoms to show a chemical bond. Since bromine is surrounded by three fluorines, use six electrons to show three chemical bonds as follows:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of IF₅ (4 steps)

#3 Mark lone pairs

As calculated earlier, we have a total of 28 valence electrons. And in the above structure, we have already used six valence electrons. Hence, twenty-two valence electrons are remaining.

Two valence electrons represent one lone pair. So twenty-two valence electrons = eleven lone pairs.

Note that bromine is a period 4 element, so it can keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell. And fluorine is a period 2 element, so it can not 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 atoms are fluorines, so each fluorine will get three lone pairs. And the central atom (bromine) will get two lone pairs.

So the Lewis structure of BrF₃ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on the central atom (bromine), and also on the outside atoms. 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 SCl₂ (4 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 bromine atom

Valence electrons = 7
Nonbonding electrons = 4
Bonding electrons = 6

Formal charge = 7 – 4 – ½ (6) = 0

• For each fluorine 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 BrF₃ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both (bromine and fluorine) are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of BrF₃.

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

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Related

• Lewis structure of HF
• Lewis structure of IF₅
• Lewis structure of SCl₂
• Lewis structure of ClF₃
• Lewis structure of PF₅

External video

• How to Draw the Lewis Dot Structure for BrF3: Boron trifluoride – YouTube • Wayne Breslyn

External links

• Lewis Structure for BrF3 (Bromine Trifluoride) – The University of Maryland
• BrF3 Lewis structure, molecular geometry, bond angle, hybridization – Topblogtenz
• BrF3 Lewis Structure, Molecular Geometry, Hybridization, and MO Diagram – Techiescientist
• Brf3 Lewis Structure: Draw the Bromine Trifluoride Dot Structure – Geometry of Molecules
• BrF3 Lewis Structure in 6 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• Draw the Lewis dot structure for the molecule BrF3 – Chegg
• Chemical Bonding: BrF3 Lewis Structure – The Geoexchange
• How to draw BrF3 Lewis Structure? – Science Education and Tutorials
• BrF3 (Bromine trifluoride) Molecular Geometry, Bond Angles – What’s Insight
• BrF3 Lewis Structure (Bromine Trifluoride) – Pinterest
• Draw the Lewis dot structure for BrF3 – Homework.Study.com
• Lewis Structure of BrF3 – Laurence Lavelle
• Bromine Trifluoride, BrF3 Molecular Geometry & Polarity – Tutor-Homework.com
• BrF3 Geometry and Hybridization – Chemistry Steps
• Calculate the valence electrons and draw the Lewis structure of BrF3 – Numerade