Lewis structure of NF3

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The Lewis structure of NF₃ contains three single bonds, with nitrogen in the center, and three fluorines on either side. There are three lone pairs on each fluorine atom, and one lone pair on the nitrogen atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of NF₃:

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

Now NF₃ has one nitrogen atom and three fluorine atoms.

So the total number of valence electrons = valence electrons of nitrogen atom + (valence electrons of fluorine 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 fluorine as follows:

Electronegativity value of nitrogen = 3.04
Electronegativity value of fluorine = 3.98

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

So now, put nitrogen in the center and fluorines on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of NF₃ something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of PCl₃ (4 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

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

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of SF₆ (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 both (nitrogen and fluorine) are the period 2 elements, so they can not keep more than 8 electrons in their 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 (nitrogen) will get one lone pair.

So the Lewis structure of NF₃ 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 CH₃OH (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 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 NF₃ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both (nitrogen and fluorine) are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of NF₃.

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

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Related

• Lewis structure of PCl₃
• Lewis structure of SF₆
• Lewis structure of CH₃OH
• Lewis structure of PH₃
• Lewis structure of XeF₂

External links

• NF3 (Nitrogen trifluoride) Lewis Structure – Chemistry School
• NF3 Lewis Structure in 6 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• NF3 lewis structure, molecular geometry, bond angle, polarity, electrons – Topblogtenz
• Lewis structure of nitrogen trifluoride NF3 – Chemistry Online
• NF3 Lewis Structure, Molecular Geometry, Hybridization, Polarity, and MO Diagram – Techiescientist
• NF3 Lewis Structure, Geometry – Kemicalinfo
• Draw the Lewis structure for NF3. What are its electron-pair and molecular geometries? What is the hybridization of the nitrogen atom? What orbitals on N and F overlap to form bonds between these elements? – Chegg
• Draw the Lewis structure for NF3. How many bonds and nonbonding pairs are around the central atom, and what is the shape of this molecule? – Homework.Study.com
• Chemical Bonding: NF3 Lewis Structure – The Geoexchange
• How to draw NF3 Lewis Structure? – Science Education and Tutorials
• How do you draw a Lewis diagram for NF3? – Answers
• Select the correct Lewis structure for nitrogen trifluoride, NF3 – Numerade
• Draw the Lewis structure of NF3 – Bartleby
• write lewis structures of nf3. what is electronic and molecular geometry? is the molecule polar or nonpolar? explain your answer – Brainly
• NF3 lewis structure – The Student Room
• Is NF3 an acid or a base? + Example – Socratic
• Which is the correct Lewis structure for nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)? – OneClass
• Nitrogen Trifluoride (NF3) – Lewis Structure Diagram – Numerade
• NF3 Lewis structure by Zac Neilon and Brent Wicke – ShowMe