Question

What is the Lewis structure for a perchlorate ion?

Answer 1

For `"perchlorate anion, "ClO_4^-`, there are `7+4xx6+1=32" valence electrons"` to distribute.

Explanation:

There are thus 16 electron pairs to distribute over 5 centres.

`""^(-)O-Cl(=O)_3` You must fill in the lone pairs. Clearly, the negatuve charge is localized on oxygen in this representation, but all the oxygen atoms are formally equivalent.