Is the Lewis Structure for SOCl2 Correct?

AI Thread Summary
The Lewis structure for SOCl2 initially presented shows sulfur (S) bonded to two chlorine (Cl) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom with formal charges. The proposed modification involves forming a double bond between sulfur and oxygen to eliminate formal charges, resulting in a more stable structure. This adjustment leaves sulfur with ten electrons, which is permissible as sulfur can exceed the octet rule due to its position in the third period of the periodic table. The final consensus is that the double bond structure is the correct representation of SOCl2. Understanding these bonding nuances is crucial for accurate molecular modeling.
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Homework Statement


write lewis structure for SOCl2.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


.. .. ..
:Cl-S-Cl:
.. | ..
:O:
..

what i did was put S in the middle with a single bond on both side for Cl, each Cl has six dot. S has two at the top. I havve a single bond at the bottom of S to connect to O. O has six dot.
i wanted to know if i can also write another structure. like take one set of electron away frm Oxygen and put a double bond connect sulfur and oxygen, instead of a single bond? please let me know if the top diagram is correct also. Thank you
 
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From the Lewis structure you drew, the oxygen would have a formal charge of -1 and the sulfur would have a formal charge of +1. In order to eliminate these formal charges you can use a lone pair from the oxygen to form a double bond with the sulfur. This leaves none of the atoms with a formal charge, but it leaves sulfur with 10 electrons in its valence shell. This would normally be a problem, but because sulfur is in the third period of the periodic table, it can violate the octet rule by using its d-orbitals to expand its valence shell and hold more than eight electrons.

So the structure with a double bond between the sulfur and oxygen would be the correct Lewis structure.
 
thank you
 
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