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Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound Cl2O?
A
The oxygen atom is bonded to two chlorine atoms, with one lone pair on oxygen and four lone pairs on each chlorine.
B
The oxygen atom forms a double bond with one chlorine and a single bond with the other, with one lone pair on oxygen.
C
The oxygen atom is bonded to two chlorine atoms, with two lone pairs on oxygen and three lone pairs on each chlorine.
D
The oxygen atom is bonded to one chlorine atom and has three lone pairs, while the other chlorine is not bonded.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons available for the molecule Cl2O. Chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons each, and oxygen (O) has 6 valence electrons. Calculate the sum: $2 \times 7 + 6$.
Step 2: Draw a skeletal structure for Cl2O. Since oxygen is less electronegative than chlorine, oxygen is typically the central atom bonded to two chlorine atoms.
Step 3: Connect the atoms with single bonds initially. Each single bond represents 2 electrons shared between atoms. Subtract these bonding electrons from the total valence electrons.
Step 4: Distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs to satisfy the octet rule for each atom. Oxygen typically has 2 lone pairs (4 electrons), and each chlorine atom typically has 3 lone pairs (6 electrons) to complete their octets.
Step 5: Verify the structure by checking that each atom has a complete octet and that the total number of electrons used (bonding + lone pairs) equals the total valence electrons calculated in Step 1.