Question

current attempt in progress
identify the hybridization of the underlined atom in the so₂. enter superscripts in parentheses, e.g. enter sp³ as sp(3).

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate the steric number

The formula for steric number \(SN=\text{number of bonding domains}+\text{number of lone pairs}\).
For \(SO_{2}\), the central atom is \(S\). The number of bonding domains (double - bond counts as one domain) is \(2\) (two \(S - O\) bonds), and the number of lone pairs on \(S\) is \(1\). So \(SN = 2+1=3\).

Step2: Determine hybridization from steric number

If \(SN = 3\), the hybridization is \(sp^{2}\).

Answer:

\(sp(2)\)