Final answer:
Chlorine in ClO3F has a formal charge of 0 and an oxidation number of +7. Calculations are based on the rules for assigning oxidation states and formal charges, considering the electronegativity and bonding of oxygen and fluorine. The given options do not accurately match the calculated values.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the formal charge and oxidation number of chlorine in ClO3F, we must consider the rules for assigning oxidation numbers and calculating formal charges. The formal charge on an atom is the difference between the number of valence electrons it has in the free, neutral atom, and the number it has in the molecule or ion. Oxidation numbers represent the theoretical charge an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were 100% ionic.
Starting with formal charge, the sum of formal charges of all atoms in a molecule or ion must equal the overall charge. For ClO3F, which is neutral, this sum must be zero. Every oxygen atom typically has six valence electrons and forms two bonds. Thus, with two bonds, each oxygen contributes -1 to formal charge. Since there are three oxygen atoms, their total contribution is -3. Fluorine, with seven valence electrons, contributes -1, being more electronegative and getting all its electrons to itself in calculating formal charge. Hence, to balance out to zero, chlorine must have a formal charge of 0.
Regarding the oxidation number, oxygen is normally assigned an oxidation number of -2, and fluorine is always -1 due to its high electronegativity. Given that there are three oxygens, their total contribution to oxidation state is -6. Fluorine's contribution remains -1. To balance these out in the neutral molecule of ClO3F, the chlorine must possess an oxidation number of +7 (since +7 + (-6) + (-1) = 0). Therefore, the correct answer is that chlorine in ClO3F has a formal charge of 0 and an oxidation number of +7. However, this oxidation state is not listed in the given options. The question seems to have an error, as none of the options correctly match the calculated values.