Simple Method for writing Lewis Electron Dot Structures
of chlorine perchlorate Cl2O4
A simple procedure for writing Lewis electron dot structures is given in a previous article entitled “Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule”. Several worked examples relevant to this procedure were given in previous posts please see the Sitemap - Table of Contents (Lewis Electron Dot Structures).
Another example for writing Lewis structures following the above procedure is given below.
Let us consider the case of the Lewis electron dot structures of chlorine perchlorate Cl2O4
How can we construct the Lewis structure of Cl2O4?
Step 1: Connect the atoms with single bonds.
Step 2: Calculate the # of electrons in π bonds (multiple bonds) using formula (1) in the article entitled “Lewis Structures and the Octet Rule”.
Where n in this case is 6 since Cl2O4 consists of six atoms.
Where V = (6 + 7 + 6 * 2 + 6 + 7) = 38
Therefore, P = 6n + 2 – V = 6 * 6 + 2 – 38 = 0
So there are no π electrons in Cl2O4 and therefore the structure of Step 1 is the Lewis structure.
Electrons are placed around each atom so that the octet rule is obeyed. Formal charges are assigned and equalized using resonance.
Step 3 & 4: The Lewis structures for Cl2O4 are derived below:
