November 2025 Exam Revision Courses available - sign up now! 🎉 Get up to date on recent releases at RV!


IB

View all Questions

Question

Chemistry

Can chlorine have an expanded octet?

Answer

Chemistry

Expert Answer

Yes, chlorine can have an expanded octet because it has empty 3d3d orbitals available that can accommodate more than eight electrons. As a Period 3 element, chlorine has access to 3s,3s, 3p,3p, and 3d3d orbitals, which allows it to form compounds where it is surrounded by more than eight electrons. Common examples include ClFX3\ce{ClF3} (chlorine trifluoride) where chlorine has 10 electrons around it, and ClFX5\ce{ClF5} (chlorine pentafluoride) where chlorine has 12 electrons. This ability to expand the octet is only possible for elements in Period 3 and beyond because they have dd orbitals available in their valence shell.

Answered by Revision Village IB Expert

Explore More IB Chemistry Resources

Over 80% of IB students globally are experiencing the power of Revision Village