Question

Explain the structure of sulphur dioxide.

Answer 1

Structure of sulphur dioxide:
(i) The structure of $S{O}_2$ molecule is V-shape with $S-O-S$ bond angle $119$ and bond dissociation enthalpy is $297kJ/mol$.
(ii) In $S{O}_2$, each oxygen atom is bounded to sulphur by a $\rho$ and a $\pi$ bond and the $\rho$ bonds between S and O are formed by $s{p}^2$-p overlapping.
(iii) Sulphur in $S{O}_2$ is $s{p}^2$ hybridised forming three hybrid orbitals. Due to lone pair electrons, bond angle is reduced from $120$ to $119$.
(iv) One of $\pi$ bonds is formed by $p\pi -p\pi$ overlapping while other $\pi$ bond is formed by $p\pi -p\pi$ overlap.