Answer
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Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons in the molecule.
Phosphorus (P) is in the fifth group of the periodic table, so it has 5 valence electrons. Chlorine (Cl) is in the seventh group, so it has 7 valence electrons. The Lewis structure for PCl^5 requires us to determine the total number of valence electrons in a phosphorus atom and five chlorine atoms. Total valence electrons = 5 (from P) + 5 × 7 (from Cl) = 5 + 35 = 40 valence electrons
Step 2: Draw the skeletal structure of the molecule.
Phosphorus is the central atom, and chlorine atoms will surround it. Place one electron from phosphorus and seven electrons from each chlorine atom to form P-Cl bonds.
Final Answer
The Lewis structure for PCl^5 is: P-Cl | | \*/\* | | Cl Cl where the double bond is represented by the asterisks (*).
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