
Lewis structures, devised by Gilbert N. Lewis, visually represent electron arrangements in molecules. By depicting valence electrons as dots and bonds as lines, Lewis structures predict a molecule's shape and properties based on the octet rule. This rule states that atoms tend to achieve stability by having eight electrons in their outer shell. Lewis structures adhere to this rule, offering a clear picture of chemical bonding.
Iodic acid (HIO3) is a white crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water. It is a strong oxidizing agent and is primarily used in analytical chemistry and as a source of iodate ions. Its CAS number is 7790-28-5. Iodic acid is hypervalent, meaning the central iodine atom has more than eight electrons in its valence shell.

Let's dive into drawing the Lewis structure of HIO3:
Step 1: Identify the Central Atom: Iodine (I) is the central atom in HIO3 because it is less electronegative than oxygen.

Step 2: Calculate Total Valence Electrons: Iodine contributes 7 valence electrons, each oxygen contributes 6 valence electrons, and hydrogen contributes 1 valence electron. Therefore, the total valence electrons are 7 + (3 × 6) + 1 = 26.
Step 3: Arrange Electrons Around Atoms: Connect each oxygen atom to the central iodine atom with a single bond (line) and distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs around each oxygen atom. Place the hydrogen atom bonded to one of the oxygen atoms.
Step 4: Fulfill the Octet Rule: Ensure each oxygen atom has 8 electrons (2 lone pairs and 1 bonding pair), and the iodine atom has 12 electrons (2 lone pairs and 5 bonding pairs).
Step 5: Check for Formal Charges: Formal charges may not be necessary as all atoms have achieved the octet rule.
The structure of iodic acid features a central iodine atom bonded to three oxygen atoms and one hydrogen atom. Two of the oxygen atoms are double-bonded to iodine, while one is single-bonded, leading to a trigonal planar geometry around the iodine atom. The bond angle between the O-I=O bonds is approximately 120°.

This theory highlights the importance of minimizing electron repulsion to achieve stability in compounds. In iodic acid, there are three sigma bonds formed: two C=O double bonds and one O-H single bond. The presence of the negatively charged oxygen contributes to the stability of the molecule, with resonance structures also playing a role. The Lewis structure indicates that the bonding involves delocalized electron density, particularly due to the double bonds.
To determine the hybridization in iodic acid, we analyze the orbitals involved. The iodine atom utilizes its 5s and 5p orbitals to form bonds. The hybridization state of the iodine atom is sp², as it forms three equivalent hybrid orbitals (two for the I=O bonds and one for the I-O bond). This involves mixing one 5s and two 5p orbitals, resulting in three sp² hybrid orbitals that are arranged in a trigonal planar configuration.
To determine the hybridization in iodic acid, we analyze the orbitals involved. The iodine atom utilizes its 5s and 5p orbitals to form bonds. The hybridization state of the iodine atom is sp², as it forms three equivalent hybrid orbitals (two for the I=O bonds and one for the I-O bond). This involves mixing one 5s and two 5p orbitals, resulting in three sp² hybrid orbitals that are arranged in a trigonal planar configuration.
| Iodic Acid Cas 7790-28-5 | |
| Molecular formula | HIO3 |
| Molecular shape | Trigonal planar |
| Polarity | Polar |
| Hybridization | sp2 hybridization |
| Bond Angle | 120 degrees |
| Bond length | I=O: 181 pm, I-O: 198 pm |
To determine if a Lewis structure is polar, examine the molecular geometry and bond polarity. In the case of iodic acid (HIO3), the Lewis structure shows iodine at the center bonded to three oxygen atoms and one hydrogen atom. HIO3 has a trigonal bipyramidal geometry, where the three oxygen atoms and one hydrogen atom are asymmetrically arranged around the iodine atom. The asymmetry causes the dipole moments to not cancel out, making HIO3 a polar molecule.
To calculate the total bond energy of HIO3, first, look up the bond energy for a single iodine-oxygen (I-O) bond, which is approximately 200 kJ/mol. HIO3 has three I-O bonds and one I-O-H bond, so you multiply the bond energy of one I-O bond by the number of bonds. This gives a total bond energy of 600 kJ/mol for HIO3. This value represents the energy required to break all the I-O bonds in one mole of HIO3 molecules.
Bond order is the number of chemical bonds between a pair of atoms. In the Lewis structure of HIO3, each iodine-oxygen bond is a single bond, so the bond order for each I-O bond is 1. If a molecule has resonance structures, bond order is averaged over the different structures, but HIO3 does not have resonance, so the bond order remains 1.
Electron groups in a Lewis structure include both bonding pairs (shared electrons) and lone pairs (non-bonded electrons) around an atom. In HIO3, each iodine atom has five electron groups around it, corresponding to the three I-O bonds (three bonding pairs and two lone pairs on iodine).
In a Lewis dot structure, the dots represent valence electrons. Each dot corresponds to one valence electron of an atom. In HIO3, iodine is surrounded by three bonding pairs (represented by lines in the Lewis structure) and each oxygen atom is represented by three pairs of dots (lone pairs) and one bonding pair with iodine. The dots help visualize how electrons are shared or paired between atoms.
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