No. of electron pairs at the central atom = No. of atoms bonded to it +1/ 2[ Group number of central atom - Valency of the central atom ± no. of electrons ] No. of electron pairs at the central atom in NO3− =3+
1
2
[5−6+1]=3 (sp2 hybridisation) No. of electron pairs at the central atom in H3O+ 3+