In: Chemistry
Write 2 possible Lewis structures for the PO43-. The are more than 2 possibilities, but one structure should obey the octet rule for all atoms and the other structure should minimize formal charge. For full credit, you must show the electron count and assign formal charges to each atom in both structures.
Number of valence electrons in PO4^3- = 1 ( P ) + 4 ( O ) + no.of negative charges
= 1 ( 5 ) + 4 ( 6 ) + 3
= 5 + 24 + 3
= 32 electrons.
Lewis structure (1) has octet for each atom but has more charge separation. Each oxygen carries negative sign and phosphorus carries positive sign.
Lewis structure (2) has more stability due to only three oxygens carries negative sign and no positive sign on Phosphorus. Hence less charge separation and more stability. But in this form Phosphorus does not obey octet rule.