Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of neutral HBrO3?

• A. Oxygen is the central atom, bonded to bromine and hydrogen; bromine has two lone pairs.
• B. Hydrogen is the central atom, bonded to three bromines and one oxygen; bromine has three lone pairs.
• C. Bromine is the central atom, bonded to three hydrogens and one oxygen; bromine has no lone pairs.
• D. Bromine is the central atom, bonded to three oxygens, with one oxygen also bonded to hydrogen; bromine has one lone pair.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atoms present in HBrO3: hydrogen (H), bromine (Br), and oxygen (O). Recognize that the molecule contains one hydrogen, one bromine, and three oxygens.
2. Determine the central atom by considering electronegativity and bonding capacity. Bromine is less electronegative than oxygen and can form multiple bonds, so bromine is the central atom.
3. Arrange the atoms around bromine: bromine is bonded to three oxygen atoms. One of these oxygen atoms is also bonded to the hydrogen atom, forming an -OH group.
4. Count the total valence electrons: bromine (7), each oxygen (6 × 3 = 18), and hydrogen (1), summing to 26 valence electrons. Use these electrons to form bonds and complete octets where applicable.
5. Assign lone pairs to bromine and oxygen atoms to satisfy the octet rule. Bromine will have one lone pair after bonding to the three oxygens, and the oxygens will have lone pairs to complete their octets.