Draw the Lewis structure for the polyatomic phosphite $\left(\mathrm{PO}_{3}^{3 -}\right)$ anion. Be sure to include all resonance structures that satisfy the octet rule. | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | $\mathrm{O}^{2 -}$ | $\mathrm{P}-\mathrm{O}$ | | | | | 0 | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Answer

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Step 1
: Determine the total number of valence electrons in the $\text{PO}_3^{3 -}$ anion.

Phosphorus (P) is in the 5th period and group 5A, so it has 5 valence electrons. Each oxygen (O) atom is in the 2nd period and group 6A, so each has 6 valence electrons. Since there are 3 oxygen atoms and the overall charge is - 3, we have: \text{Total valence electrons} = 5 (\text{P}) + 6 (3 \times \text{O}) + 3 (-) = 24

Step 2
: Place the atoms in the Lewis structure and distribute the valence electrons.

Place the phosphorus atom in the center with the three oxygen atoms surrounding it. Draw a single bond between the phosphorus and each oxygen atom, which uses up 6 electrons. \mathrm{P}-\mathrm{O}-\mathrm{O}-\mathrm{O}

Final Answer

The Lewis structure for the polyatomic phosphite $\left(\mathrm{PO}_{3}^{3 -}\right)$ anion is: \mathrm{O}-\mathrm{P}=\overset{\cdot}{\mathrm{O}}: : \quad \mathrm{O}=\mathrm{P}-\overset{\cdot}{\mathrm{O}}: \quad \mathrm{O}-\mathrm{P} \equiv \overset{\cdot}{\mathrm{O}} These three resonance structures represent the Lewis structure for the $\text{PO}_3^{3 -}$ anion, where all atoms satisfy the octet rule.