[govibe]

I have to make a model of chlorate and perchlorate... Does anyone know the bond lengths in chlorate, since there are double bonds? I know then for perchlorate, since all the bond lengths are the same

Here is the pic of chlorate  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chlorate-2D.png

[govibe]

*Ignore me, I am impatient*

[enahs]

The bond lengths are all the same in chlorate. They are all 2/3rds character double bond and 1/3rd character single bond. Look into resonance structures for more info why; or recall what part of resonance structures you talked about, look in your book, etc.

And bumping your post will get your in trouble. Bumping your post after only 4 hours is just silly; and even more stupid considering it is/was Sunday most everywhere.

[govibe]

so when there are resonance structures, all bond lengths are the same? Since I remember that double bonds are a little shorter than single bonds

[enahs]

so when there are resonance structures, all bond lengths are the same? Since I remember that double bonds are a little shorter than single bonds

No. In this case, they are the same because they are all equivalent; that is, they have the same connectivity (Cl’s attached to same Oxygen). However, not all resonance structures are equivalent for every molecule. Sometimes the traveling lone pair of electrons will change from being between an oxygen-carbon bond and a carbon-carbon (this is just another example, not the only example). However, in this case, one is more favored then the other because in this case one will be “more stable” then the other resonance structure, and in turn it will have more character of the more stable resonance form.

And be sure you know we are only talking about the bond lengths of the structures that contain the "resonance bond" for lack of a better term.