- #1
jumbogala
- 423
- 4
Homework Statement
Draw a diagram for the structure of BrCl4+. This should be a VSEPR diagram.
Homework Equations
N/A.
The Attempt at a Solution
Br has 7 valence electrons.
Cl has 7 valence electrons.
7(5)=35, but we take away one electron because of the +1 positive charge. Now I have 34 electrons to deal with.
Put Br as the central atom.
Bond 4 Cl to it.
Complete the octet of Cl. This uses up 32 electrons total.
You have two electrons left over: put them as a pair on the Br.
This gives four bonding domains, and one nonbonding domain, so I drew a distorted tetrahedral shape.
But... apparently this is wrong, because the program won't accept that as an answer. Any ideas where my error was?