Question

Q. According to Lewis dot theory, what types of electron pairs would you find surrounding the central atom of the sulfate ion?A. three bonding and one lone pairs of electrons.B. six bonding and no lone pairs of electrons.C. two bonding and two lone pair of electrons.D. one bonding and three lone pairs of electrons.

Answer 1

We must first check the valence number of the sulfur in the sulfate ion. In this ion, the valence number is +6 and we have 4 bonded oxygens.

`\begin{gathered} S^(+6)\lbrack O^(-2)_4\rbrack^(-8) \\ SO^(-2)_4 \end{gathered}`

The Lewis structure of the sulfate ion is as follows:

We have six bonding in the molecule. So the answer will be B. six bonding and no lone pairs of electrons.