What is the hybridization of the central atom in SO2?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the hybridization of the central atom in SO2?
sp
sp2
sp3
dsp3
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the hybridization of the central atom in SO2?
Step 1: Identify the central atom in SO2. The central atom is sulfur (S).
Step 2: Count the number of bonds sulfur forms in SO2. Sulfur forms one double bond with oxygen and one single bond with another oxygen.
Step 3: Determine the number of regions of electron density around the sulfur atom. There are two bonds (one double and one single) which count as two regions of electron density.
Step 4: Use the regions of electron density to find the hybridization. Two regions of electron density correspond to sp2 hybridization.
Step 5: Conclude that the hybridization of the sulfur atom in SO2 is sp2.
