Electronic absorption spectra Of C3Cl, C3Cl+, C3Cl-, C4Cl, and C4Cl+ have been recorded in 6 K neon matrices following mass selection. Ab initio calculations were performed (CCSD(T) and CASSCF) to identify the ground and accessible excited states of each molecule. The estimated excitation energies and transition moments aid the assignment. The absorptions observed for C3Cl Ere the 5(2)A' <- X(2)A' and 3(2)A '' <-X(2)A' transitions of the bent isomer and the (2)A(1) <- (XB2)-B-2 transition of the cyclic form in the UV (336.1 nm), visible (428.7 nm), and near-IR (1047 nm) regions, respectively. The band systems for bent C3Cl- (435.2 nm) and linear C3Cl+ (413.2 nm) are both in the visible region and correspond to 2(1)A" <- X(1)A' and (1)Pi <- X(1)Sigma(+) type transitions. The C4Cl and C4Cl+ chains are linear, and the band origins of the 2(2)Pi <- X(2)Pi and 2(3)Pi <- X(3)Pi electronic transitions are at 427.0 and 405.7 nm. The spectral assignments are supported by analysis of the vibrational structure associated with each electronic transition.