Drawing the Lewis Structure for HOCl

Viewing Notes:

  • Because HOCl is an acid we'll put the Hydrogen atom on the outside of the Oxygen atom. That means that we have to put the Chlorine on the other side of the Oxygen atom. This means that even though Oxygen atom is more electronegative than Chlorine it will still be placed at the center of the HOCl Lewis structure.
  • HOCl is called Hypochlorous Acid.
  • For the HOCl Lewis structure there are a total of 14 valence electrons.

This is the HOCl Lewis structure. For HOCl we have 1 valence electron, plus 6 for the Oxygen, and Chlorine has 7 for a total of 14 valence electrons. Put the H here--always goes on the outside--and then the Oxygen and the Chlorine. We have 14 valence electrons for the HOCl Lewis structure.

We'll put two between atoms to form chemical bonds. Then around the outside atoms, so we'll have 4, 6, 8, 10. Hydrogen only needs 2 for a full outer shell. So 10, go back to the Oxygen, 12, and fill its octet with 14 valence electrons total for this structure. So we've used 14 valence electrons. Hydrogen has 2, its outer shell is full. Oxygen has 8, it has an octet. And Chlorine also has an octet. So all of the octets are satisfied.

So that's the Lewis structure for HOCl. This is Dr. B., and thanks for watching.