[charisse]

When drawing the Lewis dot of ClO2-, the chlorous ion, I understand more than one structure is possible since chlorine lies in energy level 3 and can therefore have an expanded octet. My question is, just how far can the octet expand.. Please let me know if the following Lewis structure is correct:

**    xx    **
O  = Cl  = O
**    xx    **

I've given chlorine the maximum of twelve electrons, yet I don't see this structure on the key. Did my professor leave it off, or is this not possible for some reason? Thank you so much!

[Alberto_Kravina]

**    xx    **
O  = Cl  = O
**    xx    **

I don't think this is correct. this is the structure of chlorine dioxide. chlorite would be:

^-O-Cl-O^-

[Donaldson Tan]

^-O<-Cl=O <-> O=Cl->O^-

-> represents a dative bond