Cl₂O (Dichlorine monoxide) Lewis Structure and Steps of Drawing

Dichlorine monoxide is an one oxide of chlorine. It contains two chlorine atoms and one oxygen atom and we will learn how to draw the lewis structure of Cl₂O step by step in this tutorial.

Lewis structure of Dichlorine monoxide (Cl₂O) contains two Cl-O bonds. Oxygen atom is the center atom and both chlorine atoms are located around that center oxygen atom. There are no charges on chlorine and oxygen atoms in Cl₂O and we will learn how to draw the lewis structure of Cl₂O in this tutorial.

According to the lewis structure of Cl₂O, there are two lone pairs on oxygen atom and each chlorine atom has three lone pairs.

Steps of drawing lewis structure of Cl₂O

When we draw a lewis structure, there are several guidelines to follow. Number of steps can be changed according the complexity of the molecule or ion. Because Cl₂O molecule is a simple molecule and there is no overall charge, some of these steps are not required to use. However those all steps are mentioned and explained in detail in this tutorial.

1. Find total number of electrons of the valance shells of hydrogen atoms and oxygen atom
2. Determine total electrons pairs existing as lone pairs and bonds
3. Find center atom and skeletal
4. Mark lone pairs on atoms
5. Mark charges on atoms if there are charges.
6. Check the stability and minimize charges on atoms by converting lone pairs to bonds to obtain best lewis structure.

Total number of electrons of the valance shells of Cl₂O

There are two kind of elements in hydrogen peroxide; chlorine and oxygen. Chlorine is a group VIIA element in the periodic table and only has 7 electrons in its last shell (valence shell). Oxygen belongs to the group VIA and contains 6 electrons in its valence shell shell. Now, we know how many electrons are there in valence shells of chlorine and oxygen atoms.

• valence electrons given by chlorine atoms = 7 * 2 = 14
• valence electrons given by oxygen atom = 6*1 = 6

• Total valence electrons = 14 + 6 = 20

Total valence electrons pairs

Total valance electrons pairs = σ bonds + π bonds + lone pairs at valence shells

Total electron pairs are determined by dividing the number total valence electrons by two. For, Cl₂O, Total pairs of electrons are 10 in their valence shells.

Find center atom and skeletal of Cl₂O

To be the center atom, ability of having greater valance and being most electropositive element in the molecule are leading facts.

• If we consider valence of chlorine and oxygen, chlorine has higher valence than oxygen. So, we can think, chlorine should be the center atom.
• Considering most electropositive element, chlorine again has the chance to be the center atom.
• From above two facts, chlorine should be the center atom. BUT, in Cl₂O, oxygen is the center atom because at least there should be two bonds around oxygen atom to fulfill oxygen's only valence 2.

Mark lone pairs on atoms

After determining the center atom and skeletal of Cl₂O molecule, we can start to mark lone pairs on atoms. Remember that, there are total of 10 electron pairs.

• There are already 2 bonds in the drawn sketch (two O-Cl bonds). Now only 8 (10-2) electron pairs are remaining to mark on atoms.
• Usually, those remaining electron pairs should be started to mark on outside atoms. So, mark lone pairs on chlorine atoms. Each chlorine atom will take 3 lone pairs. Therefore 6 electrons pairs are marked on chlorine atoms.
• Now 2 more lone pairs are remaining and mark them on oxygen atom.

Mark charges on atoms check the stability and minimize charges on atoms by converting lone pairs to bonds

There are no charges on oxygen atom and chlorine atoms. Remember that Cl₂O is a molecule which does not have an overall charge. Therefore, we don't need to do the final step of reducing charges of atoms to obtain most stable lewis structure.

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