How do you draw the Lewis structure for HCCl2F?

Answer 1

>>..

>:Cl:

>>| ..

H-C-F:

>>| ..

>:Cl:

>>..

Carbon should be the central atom sharing two electrons with H, F, Cl, and another Cl.

(ignore the >, they were used simply to keep the correct structure as spaces disappear once an answer is saved and the dot structure would appear incorrect)

each pair of dots represents 2 unshared electrons

the - between the atoms represents 2 shared electrons

Cl has 7 electrons in its valence shell, as does F

C has 4

H has 1

4+(7*3)+1=26

this gives a total of 26 electrons that should be represented in the Lewis dot structure.

in a correct Lewis Dot structure, each atom should have 8 electrons around it, save for H, of course, as this one does.

Answer 2

First, calculate the total number of valence electrons: 1 (H) + 4 (C) + 7 (Cl) + 2 (F) = 14. Next, place the least electronegative atom (C) in the center, connect the other atoms (H, Cl, F) to the central atom with single bonds, and distribute the remaining electrons to fulfill the octets. Add multiple bonds if necessary to satisfy the octet rule. In this case, the Lewis structure for HCCl2F will have a double bond between C and Cl.