Formal Charges
Formal charges have an important role in organic chemistry since this concept helps us to know whether an atom in a molecule is neutral/bears a positive or negative charge. Even if some molecules are neutral, the atoms within that molecule need not be neutral atoms.
Polarity Of Water
In simple chemical terms, polarity refers to the separation of charges in a chemical species leading into formation of two polar ends which are positively charged end and negatively charged end. Polarity in any molecule occurs due to the differences in the electronegativities of the bonded atoms. Water, as we all know has two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom. As oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen thus, there exists polarity in the bonds which is why water is known as a polar solvent.
Valence Bond Theory Vbt
Valence bond theory (VBT) in simple terms explains how individual atomic orbitals with an unpaired electron each, come close to each other and overlap to form a molecular orbital giving a covalent bond. It gives a quantum mechanical approach to the formation of covalent bonds with the help of wavefunctions using attractive and repulsive energies when two atoms are brought from infinity to their internuclear distance.
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To draw the Lewis structure from a molecular formula, we need to find the sum of the valence electrons. Sulfur and oxygen are in group 6A (16) and contribute six electrons per atom. Therefore, the total number of electrons is
valence electrons in SO2 = (electrons contributed by S) + (electrons contributed by O) = (1 x 6) + (2 × 6) = 18 electrons
There are many ways to arrange atoms, but not all configurations will form a valid structure. We can begin drawing the structure by placing the first element in the middle and connecting the rest of the atoms to it through single bonds This will
suffice for all binary compounds and for many others that do not begin with hydrogen (as hydrogen can only form one single bond and cannot be a central atom). This will give a structure with sulfur in the middle attached to two oxygens From
here we can complete the octet of each atom by forming a double bond between salfur and one of the oxygens, and leaving the rest of the electrons as nonbonding. This means that one oxygen will be attached through a single bond and have
three pairs of nonbonding electrons, whereas the other will be attached through atiouble bond and have only two pairs of nonbonding electrons. The sulfur, meanwhile, will have one pair of nonbonding electrons. This completes the octet for
each atom but leaves several with different formal charges The formal charge can be calculated using the following formula:
Formal charge = valence electrons – (bonding electrons) – nonbonding electrons
Pluging in these values for the single-bonded oxygen, we get
Formal charge of Single – Bonded Oxygen = 6 –(2) – 6 = –1
Plugging in these values for the double-bonded oxygen, we get
Formal charge of Double - Bonded Oxygen = 6
(4) – 4 = 0
And plugging in these values for the sulfur, we get
Formal charge of Sulfur = 6 – (6) – 2 = +1](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2Fe0586c59-bb5e-4eaa-bc69-cd380390fea8%2F636f04ad-c167-4173-88ca-09a822e0abbc%2Flvl1tjh_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
![Part B
Calculate the oxidation number of the atom S according to the Lewis structure in Part A.
Express your answer as a signed integer.
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Part C
Calculate the oxidation number of the atom O according to the Lewis structure in Part A.
Express your answer as a signed integer.
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