Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound NO3Cl?

• A. NO3Cl has chlorine at the center, bonded to three nitrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, with all atoms obeying the octet rule.
• B. NO3Cl has oxygen at the center, bonded to three nitrogen atoms and one chlorine atom, with nitrogen atoms having incomplete octets.
• C. NO3Cl has nitrogen at the center, bonded to three oxygen atoms and one chlorine atom, with one double bond to oxygen and all atoms obeying the octet rule.
• D. NO3Cl has nitrogen at the center, bonded to three chlorine atoms and one oxygen atom, with two double bonds to chlorine.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the central atom in the molecule NO3Cl by considering electronegativity and typical bonding patterns. Generally, nitrogen (N) is less electronegative than oxygen (O) and chlorine (Cl), and it often serves as the central atom in nitrogen oxo compounds.
2. Determine the connectivity of atoms: nitrogen typically forms bonds with oxygen atoms in nitrate-like structures, and chlorine is usually bonded as a substituent rather than multiple times to nitrogen. So, consider nitrogen bonded to three oxygen atoms and one chlorine atom.
3. Apply the octet rule to each atom: nitrogen should have a total of eight electrons around it, which can be achieved by forming one double bond with one oxygen atom and single bonds with the other two oxygens and the chlorine atom.
4. Draw the Lewis structure with nitrogen at the center, three oxygen atoms around it (one with a double bond, two with single bonds and negative charges), and one chlorine atom bonded with a single bond. Ensure all atoms satisfy the octet rule.
5. Verify the formal charges on each atom to confirm the most stable Lewis structure: the nitrogen should have a formal charge of zero, the double-bonded oxygen should have zero formal charge, the single-bonded oxygens should carry negative charges, and chlorine should have a formal charge of zero.