For each of the following molecules or ions of sulfur and oxygen, write a single Lewis structure that obeys the octet rule, and calculate the oxidation numbers and formal charges on all the atoms: (a) SO₂ Write a single Lewis structure that obeys the octet rule for SO₂ and assign the formal charges on all the atoms. (b) SO₃ Write a single Lewis structure that obeys the octet rule for SO₃ and assign the formal charges on all the atoms. (c) SO₃^2- Write a single Lewis structure that obeys the octet rule for SO₃^2- and assign the formal charges on all the atoms.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Draw the skeletal structure of the sulfite ion, SO_3^{2-}, with sulfur (S) as the central atom and three oxygen (O) atoms surrounding it.
2. Count the total number of valence electrons available. Sulfur has 6 valence electrons, each oxygen has 6, and there are 2 additional electrons due to the 2- charge, giving a total of 26 valence electrons.
3. Distribute the electrons around the atoms to satisfy the octet rule, starting by placing a single bond (2 electrons) between the sulfur and each oxygen atom.
4. Place the remaining electrons around the oxygen atoms to complete their octets, and then place any leftover electrons on the sulfur atom.
5. Calculate the formal charges for each atom using the formula: Formal Charge = (Valence electrons) - (Non-bonding electrons) - 0.5*(Bonding electrons). Assign these charges to each atom in the structure.

Key Concepts

Lewis Structures

Lewis structures are diagrams that represent the bonding between atoms in a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist. They are essential for visualizing how atoms share or transfer electrons to achieve stable electron configurations, particularly the octet rule, which states that atoms tend to bond in such a way that they each have eight electrons in their valence shell.

Octet Rule

The octet rule is a chemical rule of thumb that reflects the tendency of atoms to prefer having eight electrons in their valence shell, leading to greater stability. This rule is particularly applicable to main group elements and guides the formation of chemical bonds, as atoms will gain, lose, or share electrons to fulfill this requirement.

Formal Charge

Formal charge is a concept used to determine the charge of an atom in a molecule based on the number of valence electrons it possesses compared to the number of electrons it is assigned in the Lewis structure. It helps in assessing the most stable structure by minimizing the formal charges across the molecule, thus providing insight into the distribution of electrons and the overall charge of the molecule.