Answer:
B.) 6
Step-by-step explanation:
Attached below is the Lewis structure of PCl₃ . Since phosphorus (P) has 5 valence electrons and chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons, there should be 26 valence electrons (5 + 7(3) = 26) in the Lewis structure.
Bonding electrons are the electrons present in the chemical bonds between two atoms.
There are 2 electrons shared in every single bond. Within PCl₃, there are 3 single bonds. As such, there are 6 bonding electrons in the Lewis structure of PCl₃.