Question

What is the total number of lone pairs of electrons in a chlorine molecule?

Answer 1

Answer:

Each chlorine atom will have 3 lone pairs of electrons and one bonded pair of electrons.

Each chlorine atom has 7 valence electrons, thus making 14 valence electrons for 2 chlorine atoms , out of which one electron from each chlorine atom involving in forming Cl-Cl single bond. Thus, from 14, we are left with 12, that is 2 electrons are involved in bonding. Thus, 12/2 makes it 6 pair of electrons all together for Cl2 molecule, that is 3 pair of electrons for each chlorine atom.