Chlorine reacts with hot and concentrated NaOH and produces compounds (X) and (Y). Compound (X) give — p Block Elements Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

**Step 1: Identify the reaction products** When Cl₂ reacts with hot and concentrated NaOH: 3Cl₂ + 6NaOH → 5NaCl + NaClO₃ + 3H₂O Compound (X) = NaCl (gives white precipitate with AgNO₃) Compound (Y) = NaClO₃ (sodium chlorate) **Step 2: Determine the structure of ClO₃⁻ in NaClO₃** In the ClO₃⁻ ion, chlorine is bonded to three oxygen atoms. **Step 3: Determine oxidation state of Cl** Let x = oxidation state of Cl x + 3(-2) = -1 x = +5 **Step 4: Calculate bond order using resonance structures** ClO₃⁻ has three resonance structures where: - One Cl=O double bond (bond order = 2) - Two Cl-O single bonds (bond order = 1 each) **Step 5: Calculate average bond order** Average bond order = (2 + 1 + 1) ÷ 3 = 4/3 = 1.67 Therefore, the answer is 1.67.