LEWIS STRUCTURE AND SHAPE

What is the best lewis structure of CLF2+?

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First, calculate the total number of electrons around the central atom,
that is Cl.

Cl - 7e
2F - 2e ( F is the terminal atom, so each atom will contribute one electron )

The total is 8e as you have to minus one electron because of the one positive charge.
So, there are 8 electrons around the central atom Cl. ( 4 electron pairs)

The 4 electron pairs will be placed as far apart as possible around the Cl atom.
Tetrahedral arrangement is the most likely geometry.

Out of the 4 electron pairs, 2 of them will be the bond pairs ( forming bonds with F in Cl-F) and the other 2 will be the lone pairs.

Hence, the Cl atom will be surrounded by 2 lone pairs and 2 bond pairs of electrons and it will take the shape of 'V' or bent.

The Lewis structure: [:F- Cl - F:]+

* There will be two dots each at the bottom and above the F-Cl-F
* For your information, F can only form one bond.