Lewis Structure of ClO2 (With 5 Simple Steps to Draw!)

I’m super excited to teach you the lewis structure of ClO2 in just 6 simple steps.

Infact, I’ve also given the step-by-step images for drawing the lewis dot structure of ClO2.

So, if you are ready to go with these 5 simple steps, then let’s dive right into it!

Lewis structure of ClO2 (or Chlorine dioxide) contains two double bonds between the Chlorine (Cl) atom and Oxygen (O) atom. The Chlorine atom (Cl) is at the center and it is surrounded by 2 Oxygen atoms (O). The Chlorine atom has 1 lone pair and 1 unpaired electron, while both the Oxygen atoms have 2 lone pairs.

Let’s draw and understand this lewis dot structure step by step.

(Note: Take a pen and paper with you and try to draw this lewis structure along with me. I am sure you will definitely learn how to draw lewis structure of ClO2).

5 Steps to Draw the Lewis Structure of ClO2

Step #1: Calculate the total number of valence electrons

Here, the given molecule is ClO2 (chlorine dioxide). In order to draw the lewis structure of ClO2 molecule, first of all you have to find the total number of valence electrons present in the ClO2 molecule.
(Valence electrons are the number of electrons present in the outermost shell of an atom).

So, let’s calculate this first.

Calculation of valence electrons in ClO2

• For Chlorine:

Chlorine is a group 17 element on the periodic table. ^[1]

Hence, the valence electron present in chlorine is 7 (see below image).

• For Oxygen:

Oxygen is a group 16 element on the periodic table. ^[2]

Hence, the valence electron present in oxygen is 6 (see below image).

Hence in a ClO2 molecule, 

Valence electrons given by Chlorine (Cl) atom = 7
Valence electrons given by each Oxygen (O) atom = 6
So, total number of Valence electrons in ClO2 molecule = 7 + 6(2) = 19

Step #2: Select the center atom

While selecting the atom, always put the least electronegative atom at the center. 

(Remember: Fluorine is the most electronegative element on the periodic table and the electronegativity decreases as we move right to left in the periodic table as well as top to bottom in the periodic table). ^[3]

Here in the ClO2 molecule, if we compare the Chlorine atom (Cl) and oxygen atom (O), then the chlorine is less electronegative than oxygen.

So, chlorine should be placed in the center and the remaining 2 oxygen atoms will surround it.

Step #3: Put two electrons between the atoms to represent a chemical bond

Now in the above sketch of ClO2 molecule, put the two electrons (i.e electron pair) between each chlorine atom and oxygen atom to represent a chemical bond between them.

These pairs of electrons present between the Chlorine (Cl) and Oxygen (O) atoms form a chemical bond, which bonds the chlorine and oxygen atoms with each other in a ClO2 molecule.

Step #4: Complete the octet (or duplet) on outside atoms. If the valence electrons are left, then put the valence electrons on the central atom

Don’t worry, I’ll explain!

In the Lewis structure of ClO2, the outer atoms are oxygen atoms.

So now, you have to complete the octet on these oxygen atoms (because oxygen requires 8 electrons to have a complete outer shell).

Now, you can see in the above image that all the oxygen atoms form an octet.

Also, only 16 valence electrons of ClO2 are used in the above structure.

But there are total 19 valence electrons in ClO2 molecule (as calculated in step #1).

So the number of electrons left to be kept on the central atom = 19 – 16 = 3.

So let’s keep these three electrons (i.e 1 electron pair and 1 unpaired electron) on the central atom.

Now, let’s move to the next step.

Step #5: Check the formal charge

Now, you have come to the final step and here you have to check the formal charge on chlorine atom (Cl) as well as each oxygen atom (O).

For that, you need to remember the formula of formal charge;

Formal charge = Valence electrons – Nonbonding electrons – (Bonding electrons)/2

• For Chlorine:
  Valence electrons = 7 (as it is in group 17)
  Nonbonding electrons = 3
  Bonding electrons = 4
• For Oxygen:
  Valence electron = 6 (as it is in group 16)
  Nonbonding electrons = 6
  Bonding electrons = 2

Formal charge	=	Valence electrons	–	Nonbonding electrons	–	(Bonding electrons)/2
Cl	=	7	–	3	–	4/2	=	+2
O	=	6	–	6	–	2/2	=	-1

Let’s keep these charges on the atoms in the above lewis structure of ClO2 molecule.

So you can see above that the formal charges on chlorine is +2 and the formal charge on both the oxygen atoms is -1.

This indicates that the above lewis structure of ClO2 is not stable and so we have to minimize the charges to get a more stable lewis structure.

This can be done by shifting the lone pair from negatively charged oxygen atoms to the positively charged chlorine atom to form a bond.

Now, in the above structure, you can see that the charges on chlorine and oxygen are “zero” and the above lewis structure of ClO2 is the final stable structure.

Each electron pair (:) in the lewis dot structure of ClO2 represents the single bond ( | ). So the above lewis dot structure of ClO2 can also be represented as shown below.

Related lewis structures for your practice:
Lewis Structure of Br2
Lewis Structure of BeCl2
Lewis Structure of CH3COO-
Lewis Structure of Acetone (C3H6O)
Lewis Structure of POCl3 

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