Table of contents

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

11. Bonding & Molecular Structure

Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds

General Chemistry

11. Bonding & Molecular Structure

Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of ClF_3 (chlorine trifluoride)?

The central chlorine atom is surrounded by three fluorine atoms and one lone pair.

The central chlorine atom is surrounded by three fluorine atoms and two lone pairs.

The central chlorine atom is surrounded by three fluorine atoms and no lone pairs.

The central chlorine atom is surrounded by three fluorine atoms and three lone pairs.

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Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons in ClF_3. Chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons, and each fluorine (F) atom also has 7 valence electrons. Since there are three fluorine atoms, calculate the total as: $7 + 3 \times 7$.

Step 2: Identify the central atom. Chlorine is less electronegative than fluorine, so chlorine will be the central atom bonded to three fluorine atoms.

Step 3: Draw single bonds between the central chlorine atom and each of the three fluorine atoms. Each bond uses 2 electrons, so subtract $3 \times 2$ electrons from the total valence electrons.

Step 4: Distribute the remaining electrons to complete the octets of the fluorine atoms first, since fluorine atoms typically have full octets with three lone pairs each.

Step 5: Place any leftover electrons on the central chlorine atom as lone pairs. Count the number of lone pairs on chlorine after bonding and electron distribution to determine the correct Lewis structure description.