Chemical Bonding: Cl₂O Lewis Structure

Drawing the Lewis Structure for Cl₂O

Viewing Notes:

• There are a total of 20 valence electrons for the Cl₂O Lewis structure.
• If you check the formal charges for Cl₂O you'll find that the Lewis structure with charges of zero has an Oxygen atom between the two Chlorine atoms.

Transcript: This is the Cl2O Lewis structure, dichlorine monoxide. On the periodic table, Chlorine is in group 7 or 7, so it has 7 valence electrons, but we have two Chlorines. And Oxygen, group 6 or 16, 6 valence electrons; for a total of 20 valence electrons. Oxygen is the least electronegative so it'll go in the middle. Let's just put the Chlorines on either side.

Put two valence electrons between atoms to form chemical bonds. We'll go around the outside to complete the octets for the Chlorines. We have 6, 8, and 16, then back to the central Oxygen, 18, and 20 total valence electrons. So we've used all 20 valence electrons for the Cl2O Lewis structure. This Chlorine has eight valence electrons, its outer shell is full; same here. And the Oxygen in the center also has an octet.

So that's the Lewis structure for Cl2O. This is Dr. B., and thanks for watching.