Lewis Structure Generator
Hydrogen Iodide · HI

HI Lewis Structure

Iodine keeps three lone pairs while hydrogen follows the duet rule.

Open HI in the generatorSee drawing steps
HI
H—I
Reviewed stored connectivity; detailed electron placement is explained below
Total valence electrons8
Reviewed connectivityH—I
GeometryLinear
Support levelReviewed guide

Hydrogen Iodide overview

The stored Lewis connectivity is H—I. Iodine keeps three lone pairs while hydrogen follows the duet rule.

How to draw HI

  1. Count 8 valence electrons. Include charge adjustments before drawing.
  2. Use the reviewed connectivity H—I. Do not infer a different isomer from the formula alone.
  3. Place the required single, double or multiple bonds. Keep a running electron total.
  4. Complete terminal valence shells and add lone pairs or formal charges. Iodine keeps three lone pairs while hydrogen follows the duet rule.
  5. Verify the total electron count and geometry. The reviewed geometry is Linear.

Why this example matters

Iodine keeps three lone pairs while hydrogen follows the duet rule.

Scope and model limits

The page describes the isolated HI molecule. Hydriodic acid refers to HI in water, where ionization and solvation must also be considered.

Common mistakes

  • Adding lone pairs to hydrogen
  • Drawing an H=I double bond
  • Omitting iodine's three lone pairs

Last reviewed: 2026-07-16. Educational reference only; verify graded work with course materials.