Question

Write the Lewis structure for the following H20 So2

Answer 1

See the sketch attached.

Explanation

The Lewis structure of a molecule describes

• the number of bonds it has,
• the source of electrons in each bond, and
• the position of any lone pairs of electrons.

Atoms are most stable when they have eight or no electrons in their valence shell (or two, in case of hydrogen.)

• Each oxygen atom contains six valence electrons. It demands two extra electrons to be chemically stable.
• Each sulfur atom contains six valence electrons. It demands two extra electrons to be chemically stable.
• Each hydrogen atom demands one extra electron to be stable.

H₂O contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. It would take an extra 2 + 2  × 1 = 4 electrons for all its three atoms are stable. Atoms in an H₂O would achieve that need by sharing electrons. It would form a total of 4 / 2 = 2 O-H bonds.

Each O-H bond contains one electron from oxygen and one from hydrogen. Hydrogen has no electron left. Oxygen has six electrons. Two of them have went to the two O-H bonds. The remaining four become 4 / 2 = 2 lone pairs. The lone pairs repel the O-H bonds. By convention, they are placed on top of the two H atoms.

Similarly, atoms in a SO₂ molecule demands an extra 2 × 2 + 2 = 6 electrons for its three atoms to become chemically stable. It would form 6 / 2 = 3 chemical bonds. Loops are unlikely in molecules without carbon. As a result, one of the two O atoms would form two bonds with the S atom while the other form only one.

Atoms are unstable with an odd number of valence electrons. The S atom in SO₂ would have become unstable if it contribute one electron to each of the three bond. It would end up with 3 × 2 + 3 = 9 valence electrons. One possible solution is that it contributes two electrons in one particular bond. One of the three bonds would be a coordinate covalent bond, with both electrons in that bond from the S atom. In some textbooks this type of bonds are also known as dative bonds.

Dots and crosses denotes the origin of electrons in a bond. Use the same symbol for electrons from the same atom. Electrons from the oxygen atoms O are shown in blue in the sketch. They don't have to be colored.