How do you calculate the formal charge of ##Cl## in ##ClO^-## and ##ClO_3^-##?

In both examples, the chlorine atom is neutral, and the charge is presumed to reside on oxygen.

For ##Cl##, and ##O##, there are ##7##, and ##6## valence electrons respectively associated with the neutral atoms.

For hypochlorite ion, ##Cl-O^-##, we have to distribute ##7+6+1## electrons in the Lewis structure. There are thus ##7## electron pairs. One of these electron pairs is conceived to form the ##Cl-O## bond, and so around each chlorine and each oxygen atom there are 3 lone pairs of electrons. Because the bonding pair of electron is shared, i.e. one electron is claimed by ##Cl##, and one by ##O##, this means that the chlorine atom owns 7 valence electrons, and is thus formally neutral, and the oxygen atom also owns 7 valence electrons, and thus has a FORMAL negative charge.

That is oxygen, ##Z=8##, has 7 valence electrons, and 2 inner core electrons, and thus 9 electrons in total. Given this electronic formalism, the oxygen centre is formally negative, and our Lewis structure certainly represents this.

And now for chlorate, ##ClO_3^-##. We have ##7+6+6+6+1## valence electrons, 26 electrons, and 13 electron pairs to distribute. A Lewis stucture of ##(O=)_2Cl:(-O^-)## is reasonable, and I think, correctly accounts for the charge. Chlorine is neutral, and the singly bound oxygen has a negative charge. Of course, this charge is distributed to the other oxygen centres by resonance.

For completeness, we should consider perchlorate, ##ClO_4^-##, where chlorine has its max Group 7 oxidation number of ##VII##, Here, we have ##7+4xx6+1=32## valence electrons, and a Lewis structure of ##Cl(=O)_3O^-##.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

How do you calculate the formal charge of ##Cl## in ##ClO^-## and ##ClO_3^-##?

In both examples, the chlorine atom is neutral, and the charge is presumed to reside on oxygen.

For ##Cl##, and ##O##, there are ##7##, and ##6## valence electrons respectively associated with the neutral atoms.

For hypochlorite ion, ##Cl-O^-##, we have to distribute ##7+6+1## electrons in the Lewis structure. There are thus ##7## electron pairs. One of these electron pairs is conceived to form the ##Cl-O## bond, and so around each chlorine and each oxygen atom there are 3 lone pairs of electrons. Because the bonding pair of electron is shared, i.e. one electron is claimed by ##Cl##, and one by ##O##, this means that the chlorine atom owns 7 valence electrons, and is thus formally neutral, and the oxygen atom also owns 7 valence electrons, and thus has a FORMAL negative charge.

That is oxygen, ##Z=8##, has 7 valence electrons, and 2 inner core electrons, and thus 9 electrons in total. Given this electronic formalism, the oxygen centre is formally negative, and our Lewis structure certainly represents this.

And now for chlorate, ##ClO_3^-##. We have ##7+6+6+6+1## valence electrons, 26 electrons, and 13 electron pairs to distribute. A Lewis stucture of ##(O=)_2Cl:(-O^-)## is reasonable, and I think, correctly accounts for the charge. Chlorine is neutral, and the singly bound oxygen has a negative charge. Of course, this charge is distributed to the other oxygen centres by resonance.

For completeness, we should consider perchlorate, ##ClO_4^-##, where chlorine has its max Group 7 oxidation number of ##VII##, Here, we have ##7+4xx6+1=32## valence electrons, and a Lewis structure of ##Cl(=O)_3O^-##.


Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Is this question part of your Assignment?

Get expert help

Girl in a jacket


We are a team of academic consultants with extensive experience in writing academic papers for college students in the US, Canada, UK, AU, and other parts of the world.

We help students with both technical and non-technical assignments across all majors & academic disciplines.

Unlike what our name suggests, we research and draft everything word for word. We do not use AI or any rewriting tool! We provide Turnitin reports for AI & Turnitin alongside every paper.

Need help? Send us your assignment now!

description here description here description here