Question

How do we write the Lewis structure of the hypochlorite anion, `ClO^(-)`?

Answer 1

These try to depict the electronic structure of `ClO^-` anion.

Explanation:

In fact the given diagram is highly misleading and ambiguous. The valence electrons around the chlorine atom were depicted. Why should only the chlorine-based electrons be? As written, the chlorine atom is neutral. A similar depiction should have been given around oxygen, and here a formal negative charge would be associated with the oxygen atom, as is required for the `ClO^-` anion, where the negative charge would lie on the oxygen atom.

For chlorate anion there are `6+7+1` valence electrons, i.e 7 electron pairs. One of the electron pairs is conceived to form the `Cl-O` bond. The other 6 are conceived to form 3 lone pairs around the chlorine and oxygen atoms.