The Shocking Lewis Structure of PF3 Revealed—What Chemists Got Wrong!

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:31:04 +0000

The Shocking Lewis Structure of PF₃ Revealed—What Chemists Got Wrong! For decades, phosphorus trichloride (PF₃) has puzzled chemists with a Lewis structure that contradicts long-held assumptions about its molecular geometry. While commonly taught as a trigonal pyramidal molecule with a lone pair of electrons on phosphorus, recent advances in quantum chemical calculations and spectroscopic evidence reveal a far more surprising and—some would say shocking—structure. This revelation challenges fundamental principles in organic and inorganic chemistry, forcing scientists to reconsider how electron-deficient phosphorus compounds behave. ### The Traditional View: Trigonal Pyramidal Misconception The classic Lewis structure of PF₃ is typically depicted as a phosphorus atom bonded to three fluorine atoms, with one lone pair distorting the geometry into a trigonal pyramidal shape. This model assumes phosphorus adopts a sp³ hybridization and follows VSEPR theory, placing the lone pair in a occupied p-orbital. While intuitive and widely taught, this version oversimplifies PF₃’s true electronic nature.