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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: darkling235 on April 07, 2009, 09:31:46 AM

Title: Can anyone explain SO2 to me
Post by: darkling235 on April 07, 2009, 09:31:46 AM
Can anyone explain to me how SO2 is stable? I keep trying to draw its lewis chart and balance its octet but I can't seem to get it right.

Oxygen wants 2 and Sulfur wants 2.

O=S=O seems wrong because Sulfur wants 2 and actually gets 4 which would be bad.

 So I wound up trying to draw a circle where oxygen binds to oxygen and the sulfur binds to them both but somehow that doesn't seem right. Can anyone explain this?
Thanks
Title: Re: Can anyone explain SO2 to me
Post by: Arkcon on April 07, 2009, 09:41:49 AM
For the very common, simple molecules you're working with, you should check out the relevant wikipedia page, they talk quite a bit about structure, and you'll pick up the basics.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_dioxide
Title: Re: Can anyone explain SO2 to me
Post by: lancenti on April 07, 2009, 11:37:13 AM
Though you may want to look up the EXCEPTIONS to the octet rule, typically those w.r.t. elements in period 3 onwards.
Title: Re: Can anyone explain SO2 to me
Post by: Loyal on April 07, 2009, 07:42:11 PM
Sulfur is actually capable of forming six bonds.  It is one of those dirty little tricks the molecular world pulls on us.