Using VSEPR the SO2 molecule has trigonal planar shape: What are the 3 groups surrounding the central atom? sulfur; 2 oxygens sulfur; oxygen and lone pair of electrons c.2 lone pairs of electrons d.2 oxygens Ione pair of electrons
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: sulfur; oxygen and lone pair of electrons.
Here’s an explanation based on VSEPR theory:
In the SO2 (sulfur dioxide) molecule, the central atom is sulfur, which is bonded to two oxygen atoms. The sulfur atom has a total of 6 valence electrons (since sulfur is in Group 16 of the periodic table), and each oxygen atom has 6 valence electrons as well.
- Bonding Groups: The sulfur atom forms two double bonds with the two oxygen atoms. Each oxygen atom shares two electrons with sulfur, forming a double bond. This accounts for two bonding groups around sulfur.
- Lone Pair: In addition to the two bonding groups, sulfur also has one lone pair of electrons. This lone pair does not participate in bonding but occupies space around the sulfur atom.
In total, there are three electron groups around the central sulfur atom: two bonding groups (from the oxygen atoms) and one lone pair of electrons. According to the VSEPR theory, these three electron groups arrange themselves as far apart as possible in a trigonal planar geometry. However, because one of the electron groups is a lone pair, the actual molecular shape of SO2 is bent (not linear or trigonal planar). This bent shape is a result of the repulsion between the lone pair and the bonding pairs.
Thus, while the electron geometry is trigonal planar, the molecular shape (the arrangement of atoms) is bent due to the presence of the lone pair of electrons.
