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Topic: Can anyone explain SO2 to me  (Read 3312 times)

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Offline darkling235

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Can anyone explain SO2 to me
« 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

Offline Arkcon

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Re: Can anyone explain SO2 to me
« Reply #1 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
Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

Offline lancenti

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Re: Can anyone explain SO2 to me
« Reply #2 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.

Offline Loyal

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Re: Can anyone explain SO2 to me
« Reply #3 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.
Chemistry Student(Senior) at WSU

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