Question

What is wrong with the following molecular formula: SOO (sulfur dioxide)?

a. OSO is the correct form

b. SO should be So

c. OO should be written as O2

d. OO should be written as O2

Answer 1

The formula 'SOO' for sulfur dioxide is incorrect; the correct molecular formula is 'SO2'. The arrangement 'OSO' represents the correct resonance forms and the conventional representation of sulfur dioxide.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecular formula 'SOO' for sulfur dioxide is incorrect because the proper representation should show the sulfur atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. The correct molecular formula is SO2. Considering the arrangement of atoms based on formal charge considerations, 'OSO' is the arrangement that aligns with the conventional representation of sulfur dioxide. Also, when specifying the formula, we do not separate the oxygen atoms; instead, we use a subscript to denote the number of oxygen atoms which is '2' in this case for dioxide.

In terms of chemical nomenclature, starting with the name of sulfur, we add the prefix 'di-' to indicate two oxygen atoms, leading to the name sulfur dioxide, which is distinct from sulfur trioxide (SO3). In the case of resonance forms for sulfur dioxide, the electron distribution is depicted as alternating single and double bonds with oxygen, hence the form 'OSO' is used to represent this resonance phenomenon.