Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the Lewis dot structure for the neutral compound NBr3?
80
views
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly describes the Lewis dot structure of neutral SOCl4?
A
Sulfur is the central atom, bonded to one oxygen atom and four chlorine atoms, with one lone pair on sulfur.
B
Sulfur is the central atom, bonded to one oxygen atom and four chlorine atoms, with no lone pairs on sulfur.
C
Sulfur is the central atom, bonded to two oxygen atoms and two chlorine atoms, with one lone pair on sulfur.
D
Sulfur is the central atom, bonded to one oxygen atom and four chlorine atoms, with two lone pairs on sulfur.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the central atom in SOCl4. Sulfur (S) is less electronegative than oxygen (O) and chlorine (Cl), so sulfur will be the central atom.
Step 2: Count the total number of valence electrons. Sulfur has 6 valence electrons, oxygen has 6, and each chlorine has 7. So, total valence electrons = 6 (S) + 6 (O) + 4 × 7 (Cl) = 6 + 6 + 28 = 40 electrons.
Step 3: Draw single bonds from sulfur to each of the surrounding atoms (one oxygen and four chlorines). Each bond uses 2 electrons, so 5 bonds use 10 electrons.
Step 4: Distribute the remaining electrons to satisfy the octet rule for the outer atoms first (oxygen and chlorines). Oxygen typically forms a double bond with sulfur to complete its octet, which affects the electron count around sulfur.
Step 5: After placing bonds and lone pairs on outer atoms, check the electrons around sulfur. Because sulfur can expand its octet, it can accommodate more than 8 electrons, and in SOCl4, sulfur has no lone pairs but forms bonds with one oxygen (double bond) and four chlorines (single bonds).
Related Videos
Related Practice
