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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct Lewis dot structure for a neutral chlorine molecule (Cl2)?
A
Cl:Cl (each Cl atom has three lone pairs and shares one pair of electrons between them)
B
Cl=Cl (each Cl atom has three lone pairs and shares two pairs of electrons between them)
C
Cl-Cl (each Cl atom has two lone pairs and shares two pairs of electrons between them)
D
Cl:Cl: (each Cl atom has four lone pairs and shares no electrons)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand that a chlorine molecule (Cl\_2) consists of two chlorine atoms bonded together, and the molecule is neutral overall.
Step 2: Recall that each chlorine atom has 7 valence electrons, so together they have 14 valence electrons to distribute in the Lewis structure.
Step 3: Determine how the atoms share electrons to form a bond. Since chlorine atoms typically form a single bond, they share one pair of electrons (2 electrons) between them.
Step 4: Assign the remaining electrons as lone pairs on each chlorine atom. After sharing one pair, each chlorine atom should have 3 lone pairs (6 electrons) to complete its octet.
Step 5: Verify that each chlorine atom has a full octet (8 electrons total: 6 from lone pairs + 2 from the shared bond) and that the molecule is neutral, confirming the correct Lewis structure is Cl:Cl with three lone pairs on each atom and a single bond between them.