Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of the neutral compound CH5N (methylamine)?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of neutral SO2Cl2 (thionyl chloride)?
A
Sulfur is the central atom, bonded to two oxygen atoms and two chlorine atoms, with two lone pairs on sulfur.
B
Sulfur is the central atom, bonded to two oxygen atoms and two chlorine atoms, with no lone pairs on sulfur.
C
Oxygen is the central atom, bonded to two sulfur atoms and two chlorine atoms.
D
Sulfur is the central atom, bonded to one oxygen atom and three chlorine atoms, with one lone pair on sulfur.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the central atom in SO2Cl2. Generally, the least electronegative atom (excluding hydrogen) is the central atom. Here, sulfur (S) is less electronegative than oxygen (O) and chlorine (Cl), so sulfur is the central atom.
Step 2: Determine the total number of valence electrons. Sulfur has 6 valence electrons, each oxygen has 6, and each chlorine has 7. Calculate the total: \(6 + 2 \times 6 + 2 \times 7 = 6 + 12 + 14 = 32\) valence electrons.
Step 3: Draw single bonds from sulfur to each of the two oxygen atoms and two chlorine atoms. Each bond uses 2 electrons, so 4 bonds use \(4 \times 2 = 8\) electrons.
Step 4: Distribute the remaining electrons to satisfy the octet rule for the outer atoms first (oxygen and chlorine). Oxygen atoms often form double bonds with sulfur to complete their octet, which affects the bonding and lone pairs on sulfur.
Step 5: After placing bonds and lone pairs on outer atoms, check the sulfur atom's electrons. Sulfur can expand its octet, but in SO2Cl2, sulfur typically has no lone pairs, being bonded to two oxygens (with double bonds) and two chlorines (with single bonds). This matches the correct description.
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