Phosphorus has five valence electrons and hydrogen has one valence electron. What would be the Lewis dot (electron dot) structure for the covalent compound phosphorus trihydride?

Question

abb0t · Answer

As the name implies, phosphorous, "tri" meaning three hydride, meaning hydrogen. $PH_3$
NOTE: I don't think that you may have learned stereochemistry, but there is in stereochemistry in phosphine.

theeric · Answer

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pertab/perlewis.html http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/chemical/lewis.html#c1 http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/chemical/lewis.html#c2 Very good resource site. I'm not the best at physics, but I knew that the answer was not $\sf PH_3$.

theeric · Answer

Since $\sf P$ has $5$ electrons in it's outermost shell, and it will tend to get $8$, it will share $3$ with other atoms. Or take them, or something.. I haven't calculated what type of bond would take place in a while. If the bonds are covalent, they are shared, I think. So, $\sf P$ would have two dots on all four sides of it, and $\sf H$ atoms on three sides.

theeric · Answer

I did a quick Google search and it looks like I'm right.
So do you see what you need to do?

aaronq · Answer

PH3 is trigonal pyramidal (just like ammonia NH3), 3 bonds (6 e) 1 lone pair (2e).  

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