One other question that I am really not 100% sure on:
how do I draw the electron-dot structure for: CHClO.
I "think" that CHClO is a trigonal planar molecule, with the central atom being carbon. Is this correct?
H
..
C::O
..
Cl
with four dots on the O and 6 added to the Cl. You should have 18 electrons total.
The least electronegative element usually is the central element. However, it can't be H (in the rules). So I think C is correct for the central element. I also think it is trigonal planar. I would think it would look something like this.
H
|
C=O
|
Cl
That is three regions of high electron density which makes it trigonal planar.
is trigonal planar bent though? or would it basically look just as you have it, but with 2electrons on top of the "O" & 2 on the bottom of it? & then 6/3pairs of electrons around the "Cl".
or...being as how these structures are way too hard to type out:
the "Carbon" would be the central atom with the "Oxygen" sticking straight up above it with one pair of electrons on either side of it (to the right & left) & then the "Hydrogen" atom & the "Chlorine" atom being singly bonded to the "Carbon" & both arranged under the "Carbon" like an upside-down "V"-shape???
I tried drawing as this & it turned out to be correct. Thank you very much!
Trigonal planar is a triangle.
  .
  /___\
with C in the center of the triangle (in the plane of the paper) and bonds from the center to each corner. 1 bond to H at one corner, 1 bond to Cl at another corner and 2 bonds to O at the remaining corner.
Also remember that the bond angles are at 120 degrees. and a hybridization of sp^2
Cl-C-H
O