Pbr4+ Lewis Structure & Characteristics: 17 Complete Facts

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PBr4+ or phosphorus tetrabromide ion is formed from the phosphurus pentabromide. Let us discuss about PBr4+ and its 17 complete facts.

PBr4+ ion is the dissociated product of phosphorus Pentabromide. PBr5 exist as PBr4+ and Br– . It is a reactive compound with various unique properties. It is corrosive in nature.

Let us study about PBr4+ characteristics like its Lewis Structure, valence electrons, solubility in the following sections.

How to Draw PBr4+ Lewis Structure?

Lewis Structure representation can be used to calculate the formal charge of atoms present in a molecule. Let us see the steps in drawing Lewis Structure of PBr4+.

Calculating the total valence electrons

Phosphorus with five valence electrons and four bromine each with seven makes up to 33 electrons. The positive charge indicates that phosphorus lose one electron. So in total there are 32 electrons.

Drawing the skeletal structure

Phosphorus being the least electronegative atom is considered to be the central metal attached with four Br atoms.

Making bonds and distribution of electrons

Eight electrons were taken to make four single bonds with phosphorus and bromine. Then the remaining electrons are distributed to each bromine by obeying its octet. The phosphorus whose electron deficiency is indicated with a positive charge.

pbr4+ lewis structure
Lewis Structure of PBr4+

PBr4+ Lewis Structure Resonance

Resonance can results more than one structure with different energies to a molecule. Let us look into the resonance of PBr4+.

PBr4+ Lewis Structure obeys resonance. It is because the phosphurus atom is electron deficient so any of the four bromine atom are able to donate its lone pair to phosphorus to produce more than one structure.

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Resonance in PBr4+

PBr4+ Lewis Structure Shape

The shape of a molecule can be ideally predicted through VSEPR theory. Let us see the shape of PBr4+.

The shape of PBr4+ Lewis Structure is tetrahedral. All the four bromine atoms are attached tetrahedrally to the central phosphorus atom.

PBr4+ Lewis Structure Formal Charge

The Lewis Structure of an atom with least or zero formal charge will be always stable. Let us look into the formal charge of PBr4+.

The formal charge of PBr4+ is not zero. In the case of phosphorus it is 1 and in bromine it is 0.

The equation for finding formal charge is

  • Formal charge= valence electrons – Non bonding electrons – No of bonds
  • Formal charge of phosphorus = 5-0-4 =1
  • Formal charge of bromine = 7-6-1 = 0

PBr4+ Lewis Structure Angle

Molecules with different shape has different angle. Let us know about the angle of PBr4+.

The bond angle of PBr4+ Lewis Structure is 109.50. This is because it is an ion with tetrahedral shape. In tetrahedron all the atoms are in between an angle of 109.50.

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Shape and Angle of PBr4+

PBr4+ Lewis Structure Octet Rule

According to octet rule eight electrons are needed in the outer shell to be in stable state. Let us study about the octet in PBr4+.

PBr4+ Lewis Structure obeys octet rule. Phosphorus and bromine has eight electrons in their valence shell after bond formation. It can be easily understood by looking into its Lewis Structure.

PBr4+ Lewis Structure Lone Pairs

Lone pairs are not involved in bond making but take part in deciding the bond length of a molecule. Let us count the lone pairs in PBr4+.

PBr4+ Lewis Structure has twelve lone pairs. Lone pairs are due to the presence of four bromine atoms. Each bromine has three lone pairs so in total 12.

PBr4+ Valence Electrons

Valence Electrons play a crucial role in bond making process. Let us count the valence electrons in PBr4+.

PBr4+ Lewis Structure has 32 valence electrons in total.

PBr4+ Hybridization

Hybridisation is a process seen in covalent compounds and sometimes in ionic compound. Let us see whether PBr4+ has hybridization or not.

PBr4+ Lewis Structure obeys sp3 hybridization. One of the s and three p orbitals of the phosphurus overlaps with the p orbital to bromine to result sp3 hybridization. The shape is tetrahedral with angle 109.50.

Is PBr4+ Solid?

Solids are usually rigid with a long range order character. Let us see whether PBr4+ is solid or not

PBr4+ ion is a solid. Because it is the existing form of PBr5. PBr5 exists as PBr4+ and Br-. So PBr5 is a yellow solid which exists as PBr4+ and Br-.

Is PBr4+ Soluble in Water?

The solute of a homogeneous solution can’t be separated through normal filtration. Let us see the solubility of PBr4+ in water.

PBr4+ is soluble in water. It is soluble because the of its ionic nature. Both PBr4+ and water are ionic compounds. So they will be easily miscible to each other. It is also soluble in ethanol,CCl4.

Is PBr4+ Polar or Non Polar?

Polarity is a factor that completely related with electronegativity and Symmetry of a compound. Let us know the polarity of PBr4+.

PBr4+ is a non polar compound. It is due to the symmetric shape of the ion.

Why and How PBr4+ is Polar or Not?

PBr4+ is non polar because of its symmetric structure. The electronegativities of bromine and phosphorus are 2.96 and 2.19 respectively. Bromine being more electronegative pulls the electron pairs into it to create dipole moment but the symmetric nature cancels out this. So they are non polar.

Is PBr4+ Molecular Compound?

Molecular compounds known to be as covalent compound. Let us see PBr4+ is molecular or not.

PBr4+ is not a molecular compound because it has a charge associated with it. Phosphorus being electron deficient has a positive charge makes the PBr4+ as whole an ionic compound. While PBr4+ and Br- is the existing form of PBr5 which is molecular compound.

Is PBr4+ Acid or Base?

According to lewis concept an acid can accept electron and base can donate electron. Let us see whether PBr4+ is acid or base.

PBr4+ is an acid. Phosphorus is electron deficient because it has vacant orbitals to accept electrons. So it can accept electrons like acids do.

Is PBr4+ Electrolyte?

Electrolyte has the ability to conduct electricity when dissolved in water. Let us see PBr4+ is Electrolyte or not.

PBr4+ is an electrolyte because it is ionic in nature. Ionic compounds dissociate in water into its ions. These ions have the capability to move across the solution. Hence conduct electricity.

Is PBr4+ Salt?

Salt is a neutral substance with no charge. Let us PBr4+ is a salt or not.

PBr4+ is not a salt. A salt is formed by neutralization reaction between an acid and base. Here PBr4+ is a charged compound so it not a Salt.

Is PBr4+ Ionic or Covalent?

Covalent compound don’t has any charge but ionic compound has charge in it. Let us see whether PBr4+ is ionic or covalent.

PBr4+ is an ionic compound because it has charge in it. In PBr4+ phosphorus has charge associated with it due to its electron deficiency. So it acts as an ionic compound.

Conclusion

PBr4+ is an ionic compound with 32 valence electrons which follows sp3 hybridisation. It has a tetrahedral shape with 109.50 bond angle where the four bromine atoms attached into the central phosphorus atom.

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