Which step(s) is/are endothermic in the Born-Haber cycle for the formation of LiCl?

A.     \(\frac{1}{2}{\text{C}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{Cl(g)}}\) and \({\text{Li(s)}} \to {\text{Li(g)}}\)

B.     \({\text{Cl(g)}} + {{\text{e}}^ - } \to {\text{C}}{{\text{l}}^ - }{\text{(g)}}\) and \({\text{Li(g)}} \to {\text{L}}{{\text{i}}^ + }{\text{(g)}} + {{\text{e}}^ - }\)

C.     \({\text{L}}{{\text{i}}^ + }{\text{(g)}} + {\text{C}}{{\text{l}}^ - }{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{LiCl(s)}}\)

D.     \(\frac{1}{2}{\text{C}}{{\text{l}}_2}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{Cl(g)}}\) and \({\text{Cl(g)}} + {{\text{e}}^ - } \to {\text{C}}{{\text{l}}^ - }{\text{(g)}}\)

A

In this question which referred to the Born-Haber cycle for the formation of LiCl, two respondents stated that the question was confusing especially for ESL candidates. In fact, the 68% of candidates got the correct answer, namely A and it was not felt that the wording of the question would have posed any problem even for ESL candidates.