Which of the following best describes the correct Lewis dot structure for the neutral compound HOCl?

• A. O is bonded to both H and Cl, with two lone pairs on O and three lone pairs on Cl.
• B. Cl is bonded to both H and O, with one lone pair on O and four lone pairs on Cl.
• C. O is bonded to H, and Cl is bonded to O, with no lone pairs on Cl.
• D. H is bonded directly to Cl, with O attached to Cl and three lone pairs on O.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the atoms involved and their typical bonding patterns. Hydrogen (H) usually forms 1 bond, Oxygen (O) typically forms 2 bonds and has 2 lone pairs, and Chlorine (Cl) usually forms 1 bond and has 3 lone pairs in neutral molecules.
2. Step 2: Determine the connectivity based on common chemical knowledge. In hypochlorous acid (HOCl), hydrogen is bonded to oxygen because hydrogen typically bonds to more electronegative atoms like oxygen rather than chlorine.
3. Step 3: Draw the Lewis structure with oxygen in the center bonded to both hydrogen and chlorine. This arrangement satisfies the bonding preferences: H–O–Cl.
4. Step 4: Assign lone pairs to complete the octets. Oxygen should have two lone pairs to complete its octet, and chlorine should have three lone pairs to complete its octet.
5. Step 5: Verify that the total number of valence electrons used matches the sum of valence electrons from H, O, and Cl, ensuring the structure is neutral and follows the octet rule where applicable.