Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound C2H3Cl3?

• A. Each chlorine atom forms a double bond with a carbon atom, and the hydrogens are bonded to chlorine.
• B. Both carbon atoms have lone pairs, and each hydrogen is bonded to a chlorine atom.
• C. Each carbon atom forms four single bonds, and all hydrogen and chlorine atoms are bonded to the carbons with no lone pairs on carbon.
• D. One carbon atom forms a double bond with the other carbon, and all chlorine atoms are bonded to hydrogen atoms.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the molecular formula and the atoms involved. The compound is C2H3Cl3, which means it contains 2 carbon atoms, 3 hydrogen atoms, and 3 chlorine atoms.
2. Step 2: Recall the bonding rules for carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine. Carbon typically forms 4 bonds to satisfy its octet, hydrogen forms 1 bond, and chlorine usually forms 1 bond and has 3 lone pairs.
3. Step 3: Determine the connectivity. Since the compound is neutral and contains carbons, hydrogens, and chlorines, hydrogens and chlorines are most likely bonded to carbons, not to each other, because hydrogen rarely bonds to chlorine in stable organic compounds.
4. Step 4: Consider the bonding on carbon atoms. Each carbon atom should form four single bonds (to satisfy the octet rule) with no lone pairs on carbon. This means carbons bond to hydrogens, chlorines, and the other carbon atom with single bonds.
5. Step 5: Evaluate the given statements against these rules. The correct description is that each carbon atom forms four single bonds, and all hydrogen and chlorine atoms are bonded to the carbons with no lone pairs on carbon.