To determine the number of lone pairs of electrons on the central atom 'Cl' in $$ClF$_3,$ we need to follow these steps:$\\$1. Determine the total number of valence electrons in $$ClF$_3: \\$• Chlorine (Cl) has 7 valence electrons.$\\$• Each fluorine (F) atom has 7 valence electrons, and there are 3 fluorine atoms.$\\$• Total valence electrons = 7 (from Cl) + 3 \times 7 (from 3 F atoms) = 28.$\\$2. Calculate the number of electrons used in bonding:$\\$• Each Cl-F bond uses 2 electrons.$\\$• There are 3 Cl-F bonds, so 3 \times 2 = 6 electrons are used in bonding.$\\$3. Calculate the number of electrons remaining as lone pairs:$\\$• Total electrons = 28, electrons used in bonding = 6.$\\$• Electrons remaining = 28 - 6 = 22 electrons.$\\$4. Determine the number of lone pairs on the central atom (Cl):$\\$• The remaining 22 electrons are distributed as lone pairs.$\\$• Each lone pair consists of 2 electrons.$\\$• On the central atom Cl, after forming 3 bonds, it has 10 electrons around it (6 from bonds and 4 from lone pairs).$\\$• Therefore, the number of lone pairs on Cl is $\frac{4}{2} = 2. \\$Thus, the number of lone pairs of electrons on the central atom 'Cl' in $$ClF$_3$ is 2.$\\$This corresponds to Option 2.