sulphur dioxide

the sulphur has 10 electrons in its outer shell, - it has two double bonds to the oxygen atoms

Reply 2

stratomaster

I was getting confused on that. How can it have 10 electrons in its shell?
I think SO3 is an alternative.

Reply 3

grapesugar

1

is there like a picture on the net of it??
i can't find one.

Reply 4

sea tea

9

sulphur has 6 electrons in its outer shell. so a dot cross has 2 double bonds to oxygen (O=S=O), and a lone pair on the sulphur, and 2 lone pairs on each oxygen.

Reply 5

sulphur trioxide has two double bonds and a dative bond therefor sulphur has 10 electrons in its outer shell when binded to two oxygen molecules, each oxygen molecule shares 2 of its electrons with the sulphur and vice versa for the sulphur becuase it is covalent bonding - i dont know why sulphur has 10 electrons in its outer shell - think it may be becuse of a d orbital

Reply 6

what on earth are you on about austin

wow - mucho confusion!!

SO2 is trigonal planar in terms of its electrons and orbitals. A full description is beyond the needs of 'A' level but it can be considered to have one double bond between S and O, one dative covalent bond between S and O and one lone pair...

It has the (orbitals) electrons resonance delocalised and therefore is perfectly symmetrical (120º) in terms of electron pairs, with each bond being 'worth' one bond and a third. But as each bonding pair is closer to the bonded atom there is less repulsion an angle of slightly less than 120º is expected. (actual angle = 118º)

It consequently has only eight electrons in the outer shell.

Reply 8

Isn't SO2 as simple as O=S=O with sulphur being 2:8:6 so 4 electrons in the covalent bond with oxygen and the 1 lone pair on sulphur?

Intelligentsia

Isn't SO2 as simple as O=S=O with sulphur being 2:8:6 so 4 electrons in the covalent bond with oxygen and the 1 lone pair on sulphur?

no

Reply 10

In your previous post you say SO2 is trigonal planar. There's only 2 O atoms attached to the S how on earth can you achieve a trigonal planar structure? I'm pretty sure SO2 is linear and bent like H2O. It has just occured to me that we're all confused between SO2 and SO3. Perhaps you were describing SO3.

Reply 11

SO2 is NOT LINEAR no way that is completely wrong!!!! co2 is linear

Ok im gonna clear this up once and for all im fed up seeing all the posts about this, sulphur can make use of its 3d orbital so it can have more than 8 electrons in its outer shell!! - yes i know it sounds wierd but its true.

to draw it: - ok each oxyegen atom needs 8 electrons in its outer shell - agreed? yes so its only got 6 where does it get there other 2 from?? the suplhur of course. so u with me can u see it in ur minds eye? so each oxyegen needs 2 electrons, we all agree that there are two double bonds between oxygen and sulphur so why cant u guys under stand that therefore there must be 4 electons being shared (2 from sulphur and 2 from oxygen- COVALENT). if a dative bond requires a lone pair and thats 2 electrons & only forms a single bond then a double bond is 4. O = S = O (its not linear though - this is the only way i can illustrate using the keyboard)

so if the S is sharing 4 of its electons(2 with EACH oxyegen) that leaves 2 left this is a lone pair and causes the shape to bend becuase of repulsion. that adds up to 6 (4+2 = 6) ok but we said ellier that the oxygen atoms are each sharing 2 electons (covalent remember!!!) so 6 + 4 = 10

SULPHUR TRIOXIDE IS TRIGONAL PLANNER this is because of the dative bond that sulphur forms with a lone pair of electrons

Reply 12

charco

wow - mucho confusion!!

SO2 is trigonal planar in terms of its electrons and orbitals. A full description is beyond the needs of 'A' level but it can be considered to have one double bond between S and O, one dative covalent bond between S and O and one lone pair...

It has the (orbitals) electrons resonance delocalised and therefore is perfectly symmetrical (120º) in terms of electron pairs, with each bond being 'worth' one bond and a third. But as each bonding pair is closer to the bonded atom there is less repulsion an angle of slightly less than 120º is expected. (actual angle = 118º)

It consequently has only eight electrons in the outer shell.

the lone pair is the dative bond if u guys still dont believe me ask your teachers - ive tried explaining it

Reply 13

forkwise

1

Each oxygen can accept one pair of donated electrons from the sulphur making four electrons used. However this gives the sulphur only six electrons in total in the outer shell. It is therefore appropriate to share another pair from one of the oxygens making an effective double bond and giving sulphur a complete octet.

Reply 14

That's strange, the Jan 06 Foundation Chemistry exam asked you to draw SO2 and I drew it with 2 covalent double bonds i.e. O=S=O and got it correct. Unless we're taught a "simplified" version.

Reply 15

your wrong!!! (forkwise)

http://www.chemguide.co.uk/atoms/bonding/shapesdouble.html

Reply 16