So2

[hospitaldoctor1]

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Why is the arrangement of SO2 the way that it is?
Why don't both Oxygens double bond to Sulfur? Why does only one Oxygen double bond? Why does S have a lone pair?
Doesn't Oxygen like to double bond? Why don't both Oxygens double bond to S?

 

[ezsanche]

Why is the arrangement of SO2 the way that it is?
Why don't both Oxygens double bond to Sulfur? Why does only one Oxygen double bond? Why does S have a lone pair?
Doesn't Oxygen like to double bond? Why don't both Oxygens double bond to S?

.. .. ..
0=S=0 bent
.. ..

Review your lewis dot structure rules. As you can see S and O have 6 valence electrons. So there are a total of 18 electrons.

Following the octet rules and the Vsepr model you should get the bent structure depicted above.

 

[hospitaldoctor1]

Kaplan shows SO2 as:

O=S-O

are they wrong?

 

[ezsanche]

It was probably a typo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_dioxide

Sulfur dioxide is a bent molecule.

 

[hospitaldoctor1]

The sulfur has a lone pair of electrons?
How would you know if it does or does not?

 

[Doodl3s]

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch8/graphics/so2.gif

that pic is the correct lewis dot. Its a resonance hybrid of both...

Sulfur can't have two double bonds AND a lone pair at the some time. Think about the p orbitals, anything with two double bonds attached must be linear.

 

[ezsanche]

S can have 2 double bonds and a lone pair of electrons at the same time. S does not have to go by the octet rule since it has open d orbitals.

 

[Doodl3s]

this is true... but draw out the orbitals... how would you have an atom with two pi bonds and it not be linear....

 

[hospitaldoctor1]

So im confused
whats the ansewr??

 

[ezsanche]

I believe all three are valid resonance structures.