Understanding the Lewis Structure of Phosphate Ion

This video tutorial explains how to draw the Lewis structure of the phosphate ion (PO4 3-). It begins with calculating the total number of valence electrons, considering phosphorus and oxygen's positions in the periodic table. The tutorial then discusses phosphorus's bonding preferences due to its electronegativity and the concept of formal charge to determine the most stable Lewis structure. It also covers resonance structures, explaining how electrons can be moved to create different but energetically similar structures. The video concludes by identifying the most stable Lewis structure for the phosphate ion.

What is the total number of valence electrons in the phosphate ion (PO4 3-)?

• 28

• 35

• 29

• 32

Why does phosphorus prefer to form five bonds in the phosphate ion?

• To maintain a neutral charge

• To acquire more electrons

• To give away its valence electrons

• To form a stable compound with hydrogen

How many bonds does phosphorus form in the most stable Lewis structure of phosphate?

• Four

• Five

• Six

• Three

What is the formal charge on phosphorus in the most stable Lewis structure of phosphate?

• +1

• +2

• 0

• -1

What happens to the formal charge when a pi bond is broken in a resonance structure of phosphate?

• It becomes more positive

• It becomes more negative

• It remains unchanged

• It becomes neutral

What is a resonance structure?

• A structure with different charges

• A structure with different atoms

• A structure with different bonds

• A structure with different electron arrangements

Which resonance structure of phosphate is more stable?

• The one with fewer bonds

• The one with more bonds

• The one with less separation of charges

• The one with more separation of charges

What is the overall charge of the phosphate ion?

• -1

• -4

• -3

• -2

How many lone pairs does an oxygen atom have when it forms a single bond in phosphate?

• One

• Two

• Three

• Four

What is the major resonance contributor in a Lewis structure?

• The structure with the most bonds

• The structure with the least separation of charges

• The structure with the most lone pairs

• The structure with the highest energy