Lewis structure of NI3

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The Lewis structure of NI₃ contains three single bonds, with nitrogen in the center, and three iodines on either side. There are three lone pairs on each iodine atom, and one lone pair on the nitrogen atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the Lewis structure of NI₃.

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

Now NI₃ has one nitrogen atom and three iodine atoms.

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

Electronegativity value of nitrogen = 3.04
Electronegativity value of iodine = 2.66

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

So now, put nitrogen in the center and iodines on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the Lewis structure of NI₃ something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of ICl₂^– (4 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

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

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of HCO₃^– (5 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 iodine is a period 5 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 iodines, so each iodine will get three lone pairs. And the central atom (nitrogen) will get one lone pair.

So the Lewis structure of NI₃ 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 HNO₂ (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 nitrogen atom

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

Formal charge = 5 – 2 – ½ (6) = 0

• For each iodine 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 NI₃ looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of both (nitrogen and iodine) are zero. Therefore, this is the stable Lewis structure of NI₃.

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

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Related

• Lewis structure of ICl₂^–
• Lewis structure of HCO₃^–
• Lewis structure of HNO₂
• Lewis structure of I₂
• Lewis structure of C₃H₈

External links

• NI3 Lewis Structure in 6 Steps (With Images) – Pediabay
• NI3 lewis structure, molecular geometry, hybridization, polar or nonpolar – Topblogtenz
• NI3 Lewis Structure (Nitrogen Triiodide) – Pinterest
• What is the Lewis structure of NI3? – Homework.Study.com
• Chemical Bonding: NI3 Lewis Structure – The Geoexchange
• What is the Lewis structure of Nitrogen triiodide? – Brainly
• Draw the Lewis dot structure for NI3 – Chegg
• Draw the Lewis Structure for NI3 – Numerade
• Lewis structure of NI3 – Bartleby
• lewis dot structure for ni3 – Quizlet