Final answer:
The Lewis structure of Cl₂O can be drawn by distributing valence electrons among the atoms and adding non-zero formal charges. In the structure of Cl₂O, the O atom is double bonded to one Cl atom, with three lone pairs of electrons on each Cl atom and two lone pairs on the O atom. The formal charges on the O and Cl atoms are -2 in the Cl₂O structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Lewis structure of Cl₂O can be drawn using the following steps:
- First, determine the total number of valence electrons in the molecule. For Cl₂O, there are 14 valence electrons (7 for each Cl atom and 6 for the O atom).
- Place the atoms in the structure. In the case of Cl₂O, both Cl atoms will be bonded to the O atom.
- Start by placing a double bond between the O atom and one Cl atom. This will use up 4 electrons (2 from the O atom and 2 from the Cl atom).
- Next, distribute the remaining 10 valence electrons to complete the octets of the atoms. Place 3 lone pairs of electrons around each Cl atom and 2 lone pairs of electrons around the O atom.
- Add formal charges to the structure. A formal charge is the difference between the number of valence electrons in an atom's free state and the number assigned to it in the Lewis structure. In Cl₂O, the formal charges are as follows:
- O: 6 - 6 - 4 = -2
- Cl: 7 - 7 - 2 = -2
So, the final Lewis structure of Cl₂O with non-zero formal charges is: