How do assign electronic charge, and oxidation number in #ClO_3^(-)#, #"chlorite ion"#?

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 9, 2015

Chlorite ion features a unusual #III^+# oxidation state with respect to the chlorine, and a bent structure based on a tetrahedron (i.e. 2 lone pairs on #Cl#). As #O=Cl-O^-#, the doubly bound oxygen and the chlorine are neutral. The other #O# has a formal negative charge.

Explanation:

From left to right, there are 8 electrons associated with the oxygen (6 valence and 2 inner core) and hence neutral as shown, 7 valence electrons with the chlorine, again neutral, and 9 electrons associated with the singly bound oxygen, hence formally anionic as shown. Of course, this negative charge can be delocalized to the other oxygen atom.

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