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Sulfur dioxide is composed of one sulfur atom and two (the "di" in "dioxide") atoms of oxygen. Its formula is SO2.

Sulfur and oxygen both have 6 valence electrons, so if you start with O-S-O, only 4 electrons are used in the bonds. This leaves us with 14 electrons to redistribute in the molecule..each oxygen is given 6 to make them octet happy and the sulfur is given the 2 leftovers..sulfur is not octet happy yet though, with only 6 electrons now..so take 2 electrons from an oxygen and share them with the sulfur..this gives you the structures O-S=O and O=S-O. With your non-bonding electrons drawn in of course..the structure is bent because of the VSEPR theory with a lone pair on the sulfur.
Formula: SO2

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11y ago

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