Question

consider the chlorotrioxyl (clo₃⁺) cation. what is the central atom? enter its chemical symbol. how many lone pairs are around the central atom? what is the ideal angle between the chlorine - oxygen bonds? compared to the ideal angle, you would expect the actual angle between the chlorine - oxygen bonds to be ...

Explanation:

Step1: Identify central atom

In $ClO_{3}^{+}$, chlorine (Cl) is the central atom as oxygen is more electronegative and usually terminal.

Step2: Calculate lone - pairs

Chlorine has 7 valence electrons. In $ClO_{3}^{+}$, it has a + 1 charge, so it has 6 valence electrons for bonding. It forms 3 double - bonds with oxygen atoms. Using the formula for lone - pairs $=\frac{V - B}{2}$ (where V is valence electrons and B is number of bonding electrons), $V = 6$, $B=6$ (3 double - bonds), so lone - pairs $=\frac{6 - 6}{2}=0$.

Step3: Determine ideal bond angle

With 3 bonding pairs and 0 lone - pairs around the central atom, the electron - pair geometry and molecular geometry is trigonal planar. The ideal bond angle in a trigonal planar geometry is $120^{\circ}$.

Step4: Compare actual and ideal angles

Since there are no lone - pairs to cause lone - pair - bond - pair repulsions, the actual bond angle is equal to the ideal bond angle.

Answer:

What is the central atom? Enter its chemical symbol: Cl
How many lone pairs are around the central atom? 0
What is the ideal angle between the chlorine - oxygen bonds? 120
Compared to the ideal angle, you would expect the actual angle between the chlorine - oxygen bonds to be: equal to the ideal angle