The molecule has 26 valence electrons. There are four electron pairs around nitrogen (three bonding pairs and one lone pair). The electron arrangement is tetrahedral. The shape is trigonal pyramidal. The lone pair-bonding pair repulsion is greater than the bonding pair-bonding pair value. Therefore, the bond angles [∠ Cl–N–Cl ] will be smaller than 109.5°. The molecule NCl3 is an AX3E species. The lone pairs on the chlorine atoms are not considered because they are on terminal atoms.
