First, we need to draw the Lewis structure of H2O.
In short, these are the steps you need to follow for drawing a Lewis structure:
1. Write the correct skeletal structure for the molecule.
* Hydrogen atoms are always terminal (only one bond)
* Put more electronegative elements in terminal positions
2. Sum the valence electrons from all the atoms.
3. Use a pair of electrons to form a bond between each pair of bound atoms.
4. Add the remaining electrons to satisfy the octet for a more electronegative atom first.
5. If any atoms lack an octet, make a double or triple bond to give them an octet.
There are 7 + 3×6 + 1 = 26 electrons. The chlorine goes in the middle with one lone pair, and the oxygens take 6 electrons each as three lone pairs:
As drawn, the oxygens are going to be negatively charged, which would mean a -3 ionic charge. Therefore, two oxygen will use one of their lone pairs to make a double with the chlorine. The other oxygen is then negatively charged:
The central atom has 3 atoms and one lone pair, therefore, the electron geometry is tetrahedral and the molecular geometry is trigonal pyramidal.
Steric number four corresponds to sp3 hybridization.
Check this 99-question multiple-choice quiz on Geometry and Hybridization:
Geometry and Hybridization Quiz
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