What is the Lewis Dot Structure of #ClO_3^(-)#?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 5, 2016

Chlorate is trigonal pyramidal.

Explanation:

There are #3xx6+7+1=26" electrons to distibute over 4 centres."#

#O=Cl^(+)(-O^-)_2#.

There is a formal lone pair of electrons on #Cl#. Counting up the electrons around chlorine, there are 6, rather than the 7 required for neutrality, so it bears a formal positive charge. The doubly bound oxygen is neutral. The 2 singly bound oxygens bear formal negative charges. Clearly, the oxygen atoms are equivalent by resonance.

What is the charge on this representation. Is is consistent?

Related questions
See all questions in Drawing Lewis Structures
Impact of this question
1801 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License