Step 1: Identify the central atom in SO2, which is sulfur (S).
Step 2: Count the number of oxygen (O) atoms bonded to sulfur. There are two oxygen atoms.
Step 3: Determine the number of lone pairs on the sulfur atom. Sulfur has one lone pair.
Step 4: Count the total number of electron pairs around the sulfur atom. There are two bonding pairs (from the O atoms) and one lone pair, making a total of three electron pairs.
Step 5: Use the VSEPR theory to predict the shape. With two bonding pairs and one lone pair, the shape is bent.
