Question

The average bond order is the number of bonds between two atoms taking into account resonance.

a. Draw a Lewis structure for the nitrite ion and answer the questions below.
1. there are equivalent Lewis structures for NO2-.
2. the average N-O bond order is .
b. Draw a Lewis structure for sulfur dioxide and answer the questions below.
1. there are equivalent Lewis structures for SO2.
2. the average S-O bond order is _______.

Answer 1

1. Sulfur dioxide, or SO2 , has two resonance structures which contribute equally to the overall hybrid structure of the molecule. However, a third Lewis structure can be drawn for SO2 which is more stable in theory, but doesn't quite match experimental data.

2.

`\color{red} = (No. \: of \: bonding \: electron \: pairs)/(No. \: of \: bonded \: atoms)`

`In \: each \: resonance \: contributor, \\ there \: are \:  six \: bonding  \: electron \\ pairs \: and  \: four  \: atoms \: bonded \\ to \: the  \: SS  \: atom. \: Thus,`

`BO = (6)/(4) = 1.5</p><p></p><p></p><p>`