For Cl ₂ O molecule consider the following statements: (A) Number of lone pairs on the central oxygen atom is 2 . (B) Cl - O - Cl bond angle is less than 104.5^ . (C) Oxidation state of oxygen is +2 . (D) Molecule is bent 'V' shaped. (E) Central atom is sp ^3 hybridized. The correct statements are:

Step-by-step solution

In the Cl ₂ O molecule, the central oxygen atom has 6 valence electrons. It forms 2 single bonds with chlorine atoms, leaving 4 non-bonding electrons, which correspond to 2 lone pairs. Thus, statement (A) is correct. The steric number of oxygen is 2 (sigma bonds) + 2 (lone pairs) = 4 . Therefore, the central atom is sp ^3 hybridized. Statement (E) is correct. Due to the presence of 2 lone pairs, the ideal tetrahedral geometry is distorted into a bent or 'V' shape. Statement (D) is correct. Oxygen is more electroneg