Question

With the following molecule SO2:

What is the Number of domains?

of bonds on the central atom? (Yes, the total number of BONDS)
of lone pairs on the central atom?
What is the expected VSEPR of this molecule?

What is the Actual Geometry you would see?

Are the Intramolecular bond Polar? (What are the Dipoles?)

Is this molecule Polar or Non-Polar?

a) 3, 2, 0, Linear, Linear, Yes, Polar
b) 3, 1, 1, Bent, Bent, No, Non-Polar
c) 3, 3, 0, Trigonal Planar, Trigonal Planar, Yes, Polar
d) 2, 2, 0, Linear, Linear, No, Non-Polar

Answer 1

SO2 has three domains, a bent molecular geometry, polar bonds, and the molecule itself is polar.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecule SO2 has a total of three domains on the central sulfur atom: two bonding domains and one lone pair of electrons. This creates a bent molecular geometry according to the VSEPR model. Each sulfur-oxygen bond in SO2 is polar because of the difference in electronegativity between sulfur and oxygen, leading to dipole moments. As these dipoles do not cancel each other out due to the bent shape, the overall molecule is polar. Thus, the correct option describing the properties of SO2 is: '3, 2, 1, Bent, Bent, Yes, Polar'.