Question: how many nonbonding electron pairs (lone pairs) are around the cl atom in hcl?
Answer: A nonbonding pair (lone pair, unshared pair) is a pair of electrons that remains on one atom and is not shared. In the Lewis structure for the chlorine molecule, Cl2, there is a single bonding pair located between the Cl atoms and a total of six (6) lone pairs distributed equally around the Cl atoms.