The central atom in the molecule ClO3 (chlorate ion) is chlorine (Cl). To determine the hybridization of chlorine in this molecule, we need to consider its valence electrons and the molecular geometry.
Chlorine has 7 valence electrons. In ClO3, chlorine is bonded to three oxygen atoms. Each bond uses one of chlorine’s valence electrons, accounting for 3 electrons used. Additionally, chlorine has one lone pair of electrons. Therefore, the total number of electron pairs around the chlorine atom is:
- 3 bonding pairs (from the Cl-O bonds)
- 1 lone pair
This gives a total of 4 electron pairs (3 + 1 = 4). The arrangement of 4 electron pairs corresponds to a tetrahedral geometry. To describe this arrangement with hybrid orbitals, we can say that chlorine undergoes sp3 hybridization.
In summary, the hybridization of the central atom chlorine in the molecule ClO3 is sp3, which accounts for its tetrahedral arrangement due to three bonds to oxygen and one lone pair.