Chapter 5, Problem 5.30P

Although the ${\text{cl}}_{{\text{2}}^{+}}$ ion has not been isolated, it has been detected in the gas phase by UVspectroscopy. An attempt to prepare this ion by reaction of ${\text{cl}}_2$ with ${\text{lrF}}_{\text{6}}$ yielded not ${\text{cl}}_{{\text{2}}^{+}}$ but therectangular ion ${\text{cl}}_{4^{+}}$ (See S. Seidel, K. Seppelt. Angew. Chem., mt, Ed., 2000, 39. 3923.)
a. Compare the bond distance and bond energy of ${\text{cl}}_{{\text{2}}^{+}}$ with ${\text{cl}}_2$
b. Account for the bonding in ${\text{cl}}_{4^{+}}$ This ion contains two short $\text{Cl}—\text{Cl}$ bonds and two muchlonger ones. Would you expect the shorter $\text{Cl}—\text{Cl}$ distances in ${\text{cl}}_{4^{+}}$ to be longer or shorterthan the $\text{Cl}—\text{Cl}$ distance in ${\text{cl}}_2$ ? Explain.