Hydrogen Bromide (HBr) Lewis Structure

Lewis structure of Hydrogen bromide (HBr) contains only one H-Br bond. There are no charges on atoms in HBr lewis structure because HBr is a neutral molecule. There is three lone pairs on bromine atom in HBr molecule. HBr is a very easy lewis structure to draw due to its simplicity.


HBr lewis structure

HBr hydrogen bromide lewis structure

There are only one hydrogen atom and one bromine atom in HBr molecule. In the lewis structure of HBr, hydrogen atom has made a single bond with bromine atom.




Steps of drawing lewis structure of HBr

When we draw a lewis structure, there are several steps to follow. Number of steps can be changed according the complexity of the molecule or ion. Because HBr molecule is a simple molecule and there is no overall charge, all of these steps are not required to use to complete the lewis structure. However those all steps are mentioned and explained in detail in this tutorial for your knowledge.

  1. Find total number of electrons of the valance shells of hydrogen atom and bromine atom
  2. Total electrons pairs existing as lone pairs and bonds
  3. Center atom selection
  4. Mark lone pairs on atoms
  5. Mark charges on atoms if there are charges.
  6. Check the stability and minimize charges on atoms by converting lone pairs to bonds to obtain best lewis structure.

Total number of electrons of the valance shells of HBr

There are two elements in hydrogen bromide; hydrogen and bromine. Hydrogen is a group IA element in the periodic table and only has one electron in its last shell (valence shell). Bromine is a group VIIA element in the periodic table and contains seven electrons in its last shell. Now, we know how many electrons are there in valence shells of hydrogen and bromine atoms.


  • valence electrons given by hydrogen atom = 1 * 1 = 1
  • valence electrons given by bromine atom = 7 * 1 = 7

  • Total valence electrons = 1 + 7 = 8


Total valence electrons pairs

Total valance electrons pairs = σ bonds + π bonds + lone pairs at valence shells

Total electron pairs are determined by dividing the number total valence electrons by two. For, HBr, Total pairs of electrons are four in their valence shells.



Center atom of HBr molecule

Because, there are only two elements in HBr molecule, we do not need to worry about finding the center atom. Therefore, we can draw the skeleton of HBr easily.

HBr skeleton

Lone pairs on atoms

After determining the center atom and sketch of HBr molecule, we can start to mark lone pairs on atoms. Remember that, there are total of four electron pairs.

  • There is already one bond in the drawn skeleton.
  • Usually, those remaining electron pairs should be started to mark on outside atoms. But in HBr, hydrogen atom cannot keep more than two electron in its last shell. There are already two electrons in hydrogen atom. Therefore, we cannot mark those remaining electrons pairs on hydrogen atom.
  • Therefore, mark those remaining three electrons pairs on bromine atom. Bromine atom will take three lone pairs to fulfill the octal.
mark  lone pairs on atoms in HBr

Mark charges on atoms

There are no charges on hydrogen atom and HBr atom. Also, remember that HBr is a molecule which does not have a charge. Therefore, not having charges on every atoms tells us we have drawn a stable structure.



Check the stability and minimize charges on atoms by converting lone pairs to bonds

Because there are no charges on atoms, no need to worry about reducing charges as a step of obtaining the best lewis structure. Therefore, we have already got the best lewis structure for HBr.




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Lewis Structures of Molecules