Question

The Lewis representation above depicts a reaction between hydrogen (blue) and a main-group element from group 5A (red). In this representation, each Y atom needs electron(s) to complete its octet, and gains these electrons by forming bond(s) with atoms of H . There are unshared electron pair(s) and bonding electron pair(s) in the product molecule. The bonds in the product are _________ .

Answer 1

Answer:

Each Y atom needs three electrons to complete its octet by forming three bonds to hydrogen. There is one unshared pair of electrons and three bonding pairs of electrons. The bonds in the product are covalent.

Explanation:

Recall that group 5A elements contain five electrons in their outermost shell. These five electrons consists of a lone pair and three electrons that can form three bonds with hydrogen to give YH3 where Y is the group 5A element.

The YH3 molecule contains one lone(unshared) pair of electrons as well as three bonding pairs of electrons. The compounds are covalent.