Question

What is the Lewis structure of `"nitrosyl chloride"`, `NOCl`?

Answer 1

Well, we gots a formal Lewis structure of `"^(-)O-stackrel(+)N=O(Cl)`, the which you have represented....and which IS NEUTRAL.

Explanation:

Around the nitrogen centre there are EIGHT electrons involved in covalent bonding: `2*"electrons"` in the `N-O` and `N-Cl` bonds...and `4*"electrons"` in the `N=O` bond. And since there are 2 inner core nitrogen atoms, nitrogen claims `6*"electrons"` in this depiction, rather that the `7*"electrons"` required for neutrality, and thus possesses a formal positive charge. To recap, the nitrogen centre has 2 inner core electrons, and FOUR electrons from its covalent bonds, and thus 6 electrons in total rather than the 7 required for neutrality (for `N`, `Z=7`), and thus possesses a FORMAL positive charge...

And the doubly bound oxygen atom claims 2 electrons from the double bond, four electrons from its lone pairs, and with 2 inner core electrons, claims 8 electrons in total, and thus a FORMAL neutral charge. On the other hand, the singly bound oxygen has 3 lone pairs, a half-share of the `N-O` bond, and 2 inner core electrons, NINE electrons in total...and thus a formal negative charge.

And chlorine with 7 valence electrons has the required 17 electrons for neutrality.

Confused yet? All I have done is to count electrons, covalent bond electrons are shared between atoms, lone pair electrons devolve to the parent atom entirely.

Answer 2

NO_2Cl has three bonded pair and zero nonbonded pair => geometry trigonal planar

Explanation:

Number of bonded substrates = 3 and equals 3 bonded pair.
The number of non-bonded `e^-` pair = Valence Electrons - Bonded Substrate Electrons / 2

Non-bonded Pairs
Valence electrons => N + 2O + Cl => 5 + 2(6) + 7 = 24
Substrate electrons => 2O + N => 2(8) + 8 = 24
Non-bonded electrons => (V - S)/2 =(24 - 24) / 2 = 0 non-bonded pair

Total Structure => `AX_3` => Trigonal Planar

The structure however demonstrates a resonance character between the Nitrogen, Oxygen and Chlorine elements.