A student sketches ICl₄⁻ as a square-planar molecule in which iodine forms four…
CHEMISTRY · Subjective · AP · Chemistry · Compound Structure and Properties · Compound Structure and Properties
Problem
A student sketches ICl₄⁻ as a square-planar molecule in which iodine forms four single I–Cl bonds, possesses only one lone pair, and carries no formal charge; each chlorine atom is shown with three lone pairs. Identify every violation of electron-counting or charge-assignment principles in the student’s diagram and specify the corrected (i) total number of valence electrons for the ion and (ii) number of lone pairs that must reside on the iodine atom.