Question

Select the best Lewis structure for chloric acid, $HClO_{3}$, in which the chlorine atom is surrounded by three oxygen atoms, one of which is also bonded to a hydrogen atom.

Answer 1

"We have to draw "Lewis structure" that obeys the "octet rule". Then we can confirmed the "stable structure".

To do this, we will calculate the "formal charges" on the atoms. If the compound have zero formal charge no need to draw extra structure of the compound otherwise we are reduced the formal charge by draw different Lewis structure.

The Lewis structure of $HCl{ O }_{ 3 }$ is as follows.

Let's assign the formal charge:

Oxygen atom (bonded to H) formal charge = 6 - 4 - 2 = 0

Other oxygen atoms formal charge = 6 - 6 - 1 = -1

Chlorine atom formal charge = 7 - 2 - 3 = +2

Let's try to reduce the formal charges of individual atoms by different connectivity of atoms. Draw another Lewis structure.

There are no "formal charges" on the atoms, so it is most stable Lewis structure of ${ HClO }_{ 3 }$"