ClCN Lewis structure

ClCN (cyanogen chloride) has one chlorine atom, one carbon atom, and one nitrogen atom.

In ClCN Lewis structure, there is a single bond between carbon and chlorine atom, and a triple bond between carbon and nitrogen atom. The chlorine atom has three lone pairs, and the nitrogen atom has one lone pair.

Alternative method: Lewis structure of ClCN

Rough sketch

• First, determine the total number of valence electrons

In the periodic table, chlorine lies in group 17, carbon lies in group 14, and nitrogen lies in group 15.

Hence, chlorine has seven valence electrons, carbon has four valence electrons, and nitrogen has five valence electrons.

Since ClCN has one chlorine atom, one carbon atom, and one nitrogen atom, so…

Valence electrons of one chlorine atom = 7 × 1 = 7
Valence electrons of one carbon atom = 4 × 1 = 4
Valence electrons of one nitrogen atom = 5 × 1 = 5

And the total valence electrons = 7 + 4 + 5 = 16

Learn how to find: Chlorine valence electrons, Carbon valence electrons, and Nitrogen valence electrons

• Second, find the total electron pairs

We have a total of 16 valence electrons. And when we divide this value by two, we get the value of total electron pairs.

Total electron pairs = total valence electrons ÷ 2

So the total electron pairs = 16 ÷ 2 = 8

• Third, determine the central atom

We have to place the least electronegative atom at the center.

Since carbon is less electronegative than chlorine and nitrogen, assume that the central atom is carbon.

Therefore, place carbon in the center and chlorine and nitrogen on either side.

• And finally, draw the rough sketch

Lone pair

Here, we have a total of 8 electron pairs. And two bonds are already marked. So we have to only mark the remaining six electron pairs as lone pairs on the sketch.

Also remember that chlorine is a period 3 element, so it can keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell. And both (carbon and nitrogen) are the period 2 elements, so they can not keep more than 8 electrons in their last shell.

Always start to mark the lone pairs from outside atoms. Here, the outside atoms are chlorine and nitrogen.

So for chlorine and nitrogen, there are three lone pairs, and for carbon, there is zero lone pair because all six electron pairs are over.

Mark the lone pairs on the sketch as follows:

Formal charge

Use the following formula to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

Formal charge = valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons

For chlorine atom, formal charge = 7 – 6 – ½ (2) = 0

For carbon atom, formal charge = 4 – 0 – ½ (4) = +2

For nitrogen atom, formal charge = 5 – 6 – ½ (2) = -2

Here, both carbon and nitrogen atoms have charges, so mark them on the sketch as follows:

The above structure is not a stable Lewis structure because both carbon and nitrogen atoms have charges. Therefore, reduce the charges (as below) by converting lone pairs to bonds.

Convert a lone pair of the nitrogen atom to make a new C — N bond with the carbon atom as follows:

Since there are charges on carbon and nitrogen atoms, again convert a lone pair of the nitrogen atom to make a new C — N bond with the carbon atom as follows:

Final structure

The final structure of ClCN features a central carbon atom linked to a chlorine atom by a single covalent bond and to a nitrogen atom by a triple covalent bond. In this linear configuration, the carbon atom satisfies the octet rule by forming four total bonds. Within this layout, the nitrogen atom completes its octet by maintaining one lone pair, while the chlorine atom fulfills its octet by retaining three lone pairs. This arrangement is the most stable because it results in a formal charge of zero for every atom, representing the most energetically favorable state for the molecule. Accordingly, this specific electronic distribution serves as the definitive and most accurate Lewis representation of cyanogen chloride.

Next: CH₂S Lewis structure

External video

• CNCl Lewis Structure: How to Draw the Lewis Structure for CNCl – YouTube • Wayne Breslyn

External links

• https://lambdageeks.com/clcn-lewis-structure/
• https://homework.study.com/explanation/draw-and-explain-the-lewis-structure-for-clcn.html
• https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/1-draw-lewis-structure-clcn-identify-number-valence-electrons-number-bonds-number-bonds-hy-q61651063
• https://www.numerade.com/ask/question/select-the-best-lewis-structure-for-cicn_-ci_ci-ci-c_ne-cic_n-cicn-16776/