XeF3+ Lewis structure

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The XeF₃⁺ Lewis structure contains three single bonds, with xenon in the center, and three fluorines on either side. There are three lone pairs on each fluorine atom, and two lone pairs on the xenon atom.

Plus, there is a positive (+1) charge on the xenon atom.

Steps

By using the following steps, you can easily draw the XeF₃⁺ Lewis structure.

#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… xenon is a group 18 element and fluorine is a group 17 element. Hence, xenon has eight valence electrons and fluorine has seven valence electrons.

Now XeF₃⁺ has one xenon atom and three fluorine atoms.

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

And XeF₃⁺ has a positive (+1) charge, so we have to subtract one electron.

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons = 8 + 21 – 1 = 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 xenon and fluorine as follows:

Electronegativity value of xenon = 2.6
Electronegativity value of fluorine = 3.98

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

So now, put xenon in the center and fluorines on either side. And draw the rough skeleton structure for the XeF₃⁺ Lewis structure something like this:

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of CHF₃ (4 steps)

#2 Show chemical bond

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

Also read: How to draw Lewis structure of XeF₅⁺ (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 xenon is a period 5 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 (xenon) will get two lone pairs.

So the XeF₃⁺ Lewis structure looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the octet is completed on the central atom (xenon), 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 ClBr₃ (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 xenon atom

Valence electrons = 8
Nonbonding electrons = 4
Bonding electrons = 6

Formal charge = 8 – 4 – ½ (6) = +1

• 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 XeF₃⁺ Lewis structure looks something like this:

In the above structure, you can see that the formal charges of atoms are closer to zero. Therefore, this is the most stable Lewis structure of XeF₃⁺.

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

Now XeF₃⁺ is an ion having a positive (+1) charge, so draw brackets around the above Lewis structure and mention that charge on the top right corner. And then, the XeF₃⁺ Lewis structure looks something like this:

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Related

• Lewis structure of CHF₃
• Lewis structure of XeF₅⁺
• Lewis structure of ClBr₃
• Lewis structure of CH₃COO^–
• NO₂^– Lewis structure

External links

• Draw the Lewis Structure of XeF3+ – Chegg
• Draw the Lewis Structure of XeF3+ – Brainly
• What is the Lewis structure of XeF3+? – OneClass
• Draw the Lewis structure for XeF3+, including the correctly placed formal charge – Homework.Study.com