Question

Give the hybridization and oxidation state for sulfur in SO₂.

a. Hybridization: sp³, Oxidation State: +4
b. Hybridization: sp², Oxidation State: +2
c. Hybridization: sp³, Oxidation State: +2
d. Hybridization: sp², Oxidation State: +4

Give the hybridization and oxidation state for sulfur in SO₃.
a. Hybridization: sp², Oxidation State: +6
b. Hybridization: sp³, Oxidation State: +4
c. Hybridization: sp³, Oxidation State: +6
d. Hybridization: sp², Oxidation State: +4

Answer 1

In SO₂, sulfur has a hybridization of sp² and an oxidation state of +4. In SO₃, sulfur has a hybridization of sp² and an oxidation state of +6.

Step-by-step explanation:

In SO₂, the hybridization of sulfur is sp² and its oxidation state is +4. In SO₃, the hybridization of sulfur is sp² and its oxidation state is +6.

In SO₂, each oxygen atom has an oxidation number of -2, so the sulfur atom must have an oxidation number of +4 for the sum of the oxidation numbers to equal zero.

This does not mean that the sulfur atom has a 4+ charge, but rather it indicates the distribution of electrons in the compound.

Sulfur in SO₃ also has a hybridization of sp². Each oxygen atom has an oxidation number of -2, so the sulfur atom must have an oxidation number of +6 to balance the charge of the compound.