SO2 Lewis Structure: Drawings, Hybridization, Shape, Charges, Pair And Detailed Facts

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SO2 Lewis structure shows various chemical properties of the compound. There are so many facts about the internal structure obtained from drawing of lewis structure.

By using the lewis concept we can draw the best resonate structure for sulfur dioxide. We can understand the boding between atoms in a SO2 molecule. So we are going to study how the best structure we can determined by knowing shape , hybridization etc.

How to draw lewis structure for SO2 ?

Sulfur dioxide lewis structure of SO2 , first we require the total valence electrons of both sulfur and oxygen. There are 6 valence electrons of sulfur and oxygen. This bonded with single bond than sulfur didn’t obey the octet rule. This lewis structure is unstable.
If one electron pair of oxygen is bonded with sulfur than another lewis structure is found. In this way ,sulfur and oxygen both obey the octet rule .Similarly if another electron from other oxygen bonded with sulfur than double bond will created. Here sulfur didn’t obey the octet rule. Sulfur contain 10 electrons. This is best lewis structure theoretically. But practically this is not really found.

SO2 lewis structure consists of Sulphur and oxygen. The chemical formula of sulfur dioxide is SO2. This is color less gas. Smell of SO2 is very much pungent odor. The smell is very much similar to the burnt matchsticks Sulfur dioxide released while volcanic eruptions.

SO2 lewis structure shape:

The shape of the SO2 is in bent shape. We can found the molecular geometry of SO2 in 2 ways. From 1st lewis structure of SO2 , where the unbounded electrons are spread up in three dimensions. This is because electron are repel to each other.

The lewis structure doesn’t tell us directly but if we visual the atoms in unbonded electron of central atom, repelling each other. Where the oxygen is move away from each other , give the molecule in bent shape.

That is by the valence shell electron pair repulsion theory that is VSEPR theory. In the second way, the geometry of SO2 is trigonal planner. The three pairs of bonding electron is in 109° angel.

so2 lewis structure
Image credit : SO2 by istock

SO2 lewis structure formal charges:

SO2 lewis structure of total valence electrons 18.Sulfur and oxygen has six electrons. sulfur has six valence electrons, 2 non bonding and 6 bonding electrons. Six bonding electrons divided by 2 , we get 3 electrons. So the Formal charge of sulfur is 6-2-3 =+1. One of the oxygen having formal charge +1. The formal charge of another oxygen will be 6-4-2= 0.

Take 2 electrons from another oxygen to sulfur make double bond in sulfur and oxygen. Sulfur has 6 valence electrons, 2 non bonding electrons and 8 bonding electrons. This bonding electrons divided by 2 , we get 4. By putting formula ,6-2-4=0. The formal charge of sulfur is 0.

Oxygen contain 6 valence electron,2 non bonding electrons and 2 bonds So we get 6-4-2=0. The formal charge of oxygen is zero. similarly other oxygen also has 0 formal charge. This is the most reasonable structure for SO2.

SO2 lewis structure lone pairs :

In the best reasonable structure ,the lone pairs of sulfur atom is one . The lone pairs of oxygen atom in each of SO2 lewis structure is two. There are total five lone pairs on SO2 atom.

It is the measure component of green house effect. This causes global warming. Scientists also have proved , that the SO2 is found in Venus and in other bodies of solar system also. SO2 is manufactured in industrial area by burning sulfur and its components in the presence of oxygen.

SO2 hybridization:

The hybridization takes place in SO2 is sp2 type . For formation of SO2 ,we need 2 double bond outside the sulfur atom, while sulfur is in the middle or central. During formation of SO2 , the hybridization used is SP2. There are 2 sigma, 2 pi and one lone pair of electrons. The SO2 is in bent shape.

It is the measure component of green house effect. This causes global warming. Scientists also have proved , that the SO2 is found in Venus and in other bodies of solar system also. SO2 is manufactured in industrial area by burning sulfur and its components in the presence of oxygen.

SO2 Lewis structure resonance:

There are two resonating structure in laboratory side. The least electronegative atom in the middle that is Sulphur and oxygen beside it. So contribution of the electron gives the best resonate structure.

This contribution of the electron gives the best resonate structure. This contribution equally to the overall hybrid structure of molecule. While the third one is best one only in theory. It doesn’t quite match with experimental data.

SO2 Lewis structure octet rule:

The sulfur doesn’t obey the octet rule is SO2 Lewis structure. Sulfur can carry more than 8 electrons. In SO2 sulfur carry 10 electrons. While oxygen obey the octet rule, SO2 emission are a precursor to acid rain and atmospheric particulates.

Conclusion:

To wrap with the post we can say that SO2 is an compound having V-shaped or bent. The bond angle between the atoms is 109 degree. The hybridization type is sp2 with bond order 1.5. The bond dissociation enthalpy is 297kj/mole. It forming three hybrid orbitals in their structure.

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