Lewis structure of NBr3

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The Lewis structure of NBr₃ contains three single bonds, with nitrogen in the center, and three bromines on either side. There are three lone pairs on each bromine atom, and one lone pair on the nitrogen atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of NBr₃.

#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… nitrogen is a group 15 element and bromine is a group 17 element. Hence, nitrogen has five valence electrons and bromine has seven valence electrons.

Now NBr₃ has one nitrogen atom and three bromine atoms.

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

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 5 + 21 = 26

• 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 nitrogen and bromine as follows:

Electronegativity value of nitrogen = 3.04
Electronegativity value of bromine = 2.96

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

So now, put nitrogen in the center and bromines on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of NBr₃ something like this:

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

#2 Show chemical bond

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

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of SeF₄ (4 steps)

#3 Mark lone pairs

As calculated earlier, we have a total of 26 valence electrons. And in the above structure, we have already used six valence electrons. Hence, twenty valence electrons are remaining.

Two valence electrons represent one lone pair. So twenty valence electrons = ten lone pairs.

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

So the Lewis structure of NBr₃ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on the central atom (nitrogen), 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 NH₂Cl (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 nitrogen atom

Valence electrons = 5
Nonbonding electrons = 2
Bonding electrons = 6

Formal charge = 5 – 2 – ½ (6) = 0

• 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 NBr₃ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both (nitrogen and bromine) are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of NBr₃.

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

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Related

• Lewis structure of HOCl
• Lewis structure of SeF₄
• Lewis structure of NH₂Cl
• Lewis structure of H₃PO₄
• Lewis structure of CHO₂^–

External links

• NBr3 Lewis Structure in 6 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• NBr3 lewis structure, molecular geometry, bond angle, polarity, electrons – Topblogtenz
• How to draw NBr3 Lewis Structure? – Science Education and Tutorials
• draw the Lewis structure of NBr3 – Chegg
• Draw Lewis structure for NBr3 – Homework.Study.com
• What is the lewis structure for NBr3? – Brainly
• Nitrogen tribromide – Wikipedia
• Polarity of Nitrogen Bromide (NBr3) – Chemistry Learner