How to know what to bond?

Question

In the problem HCl03, we have a central atom of Chlorine, three oxygen atoms, and one hydrogen atom.

The three oxygen atoms bond to the Chlorine atom, leaving the chlorine with one lone pair. The hydrogen connects to the oxygen.

My question is why can't the hydrogen just bond with the chlorine?

Answer 1

Chloric acid , HCl03, is a very strong acic, which is to say that "(ClO3)-1" is a very stable negative ion.

what is negative about the (ClO3)-1  is one of the oxygens, (oxygens are more electronegative than chlorines).

H+ ion is attracted to negatives.