Using the "NAS" idea, how many electrons are "available" for the compound HOCl?
$N=18$
24
14
32
18
Answer (1)
Determine the number of valence electrons for each atom in HOCl: Hydrogen (1), Oxygen (6), and Chlorine (7).
Sum the valence electrons: 1 + 6 + 7 = 14 .
The number of available electrons for HOCl is 14.
The final answer is 14 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We need to determine the number of available electrons for the compound HOCl using the NAS (Number of Available electrons) idea. This involves summing the valence electrons of each atom in the molecule.
Identifying Valence Electrons First, let's identify the valence electrons for each atom in HOCl:
Hydrogen (H) has 1 valence electron.
Oxygen (O) has 6 valence electrons.
Chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons.
Summing Valence Electrons Now, we sum the valence electrons:
1 + 6 + 7 = 14
Final Answer Therefore, the number of available electrons for HOCl is 14.
Examples
Understanding the number of available electrons in a molecule like HOCl is crucial in chemistry for predicting how it will interact with other molecules. For instance, in water purification, HOCl is used to disinfect water by oxidizing pollutants. Knowing the electron availability helps chemists optimize the reaction conditions to ensure effective pollutant removal while minimizing harmful byproducts. This concept extends to drug design, where understanding electron distribution aids in creating molecules that selectively bind to target proteins.
