What is the Lewis Structure of NI3?

The Lewis structure of NI₃ (Nitrogen Triiodide) can be drawn by following these steps:

1. Determine the total number of valence electrons: Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons, and each iodine atom has 7 valence electrons. Since there are three iodine atoms, the total number of valence electrons is 5 + (3 × 7) = 26.
2. Identify the central atom: Nitrogen is the central atom because it is less electronegative than iodine.
3. Draw the skeletal structure: Place the nitrogen atom in the center and connect it to the three iodine atoms using single bonds.
4. Distribute the remaining electrons: After forming the single bonds, you have used 6 electrons (2 for each bond). The remaining 20 electrons are distributed as lone pairs on the iodine atoms. Each iodine atom will have 3 lone pairs (6 electrons).
5. Check the octet rule: Nitrogen has 8 electrons around it (2 from each bond and 2 lone pairs), and each iodine atom also has 8 electrons (2 from the bond and 6 from lone pairs).

The final Lewis structure of NI₃ shows nitrogen at the center with three single bonds to iodine atoms, and each iodine atom has three lone pairs of electrons.

Here is the Lewis structure of NI₃:

    I
    |
I—N—I
    |
    I