7.21 Comment on the nature of two S–O bonds formed in SO2 molecule. Are the two S–O bonds in this molecule equal ?

7.21 The electronic configuration of S is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4. One electron from 3p orbital goes to the 3d orbital and S undergoes sp2 hybridization, during the formation of SO2 molecule. Two of these orbitals form sigma bonds with two oxygen atoms and the third contains a lone pair of electrons. The p-orbital and d-orbital contain an unpaired electron each. An electron in the p-orbital forms p π- p π bond with one oxygen atom and the other electron forms p π- d π bond with the other oxygen. This is the reason SO2 has a bent structure. Also, it is a resonance hybrid of structures I and II, with equal bond lengths of 143pm.

7.21 Comment on the nature of two S–O bonds formed in SO₂ molecule. Are the two S–O bonds in this molecule equal ?

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Alok Kumar Singh | Contributor-Level 10

8 months ago

7.21

The electronic configuration of S is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴.

One electron from 3p orbital goes to the 3d orbital and S undergoes sp² hybridization, during the formation of SO₂ molecule. Two of these orbitals form sigma bonds with two oxygen atoms and the third contains a lone pair of electrons.

The