Textbook Question 2C.3

[Jaden Ji 2K]

How does iodine complete the octet rule with four single bonds to oxygens? Are the oxygens forming coordinate covalent bonds with the iodine?

[Chem_Mod]

Iodine completes the octet rule with 4 single bonds to oxygen because this equates to 8 shared electrons. Although, it still has a formal charge of +3 in that given Lewis Structure. Because oxygen and iodine have significantly different electronegativity values, a coordinate covalent bond is possible.

[Mirren Solomon Discussion 2G]

The octet rule means that there are 8 total electrons. Since there are 4 single bonds and each bond has 2 electrons each, this is 4(2)=8. The octet is satisfied because each bond if worth 2 electrons not just one.

[Kathy_Li_1H]

Hi! Iodine can form its octet with 4 single bonds with oxygen because each bond involves 2 electrons being shared (yes all these bonds are covalent!); therefore, resulting in iodine's complete octet.

[Jaden Ji 2K]

I see! Thank you so much for the explanation.