iodine (I2) Molecule Lewis Structure

Iodine is a diatomic molecule and contains only two iodine atoms. Lewis structure of iodine molecule contains only one I-I bond and each iodine atom has three lone pairs. It is very easy to draw the I2 lewis structure.


I2 lewis structure

I2 iodine lewis structure

There is only a single bond between iodine atoms and three lone pairs on each iodine atoms. So, this lewis structure is a very simple.



Steps of drawing lewis structure of I2 molecule

When we draw a lewis structure, guidelines are given. Number of steps can be changed according the complexity of the molecule or ion. Because I2 is a simple molecule, it is extremely easy to draw the lewis structure of it in few steps. 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 iodine atoms
  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 I2 molecule

There is only one element in iodine molecule. Iodine 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 iodine atoms.


  • valence electrons given by iodine atoms = 7 * 2 = 14

  • Total valence electrons = 14

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, I2 molecule, Total pairs of electrons are seven in its valence shells.



Center atom of I2 molecule

Because, there are only two atoms and both atoms belongs to same element, do not need to worry about selecting the center atom.

I2 molecule sketch

Lone pairs on atoms

After determining the center atom and sketch of I2 molecule, we can start to mark lone pairs on atoms. Remember that, there are total of seven electron pairs.

  • There is already one bond in the above drawn skeletal. So, there are six remaining lone pairs to mark on iodine atoms.
  • Because, there is no center atom, we can mark remaining lone pairs on both iodine atoms. Each iodine atom will take three lone pairs.
  • Now, all valence electrons pairs are marked.
mark lone pairs on iodine atoms in I2


Mark charges on atoms

There are no charges to mark on iodine atoms in the above structure.



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

Because, there are no charges in above structure, do not need to follow this step to reduce charges to get the most stable structure. That means, we have already found the best lewis structure for iodine molecule.

You see, drawing iodine lewis structure is very easy because there are limited number of steps are used.


Questions






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Lewis Structures of Molecules

Lewis structure of sulfate ion Lewis structure of carbonate ion Nitrate ion Lewis Structure Ozone Lewis structure Lewis structure of sulfuric acid Nitric acid Lewis structure HI Lewis structure