Question

which molecule geometry would best describe so₂? square pyramidal tetrahedral linear bent

Explanation:

• Square pyramidal geometry has five bonding pairs and one lone pair around the central atom. SO₂ does not have this configuration.
• Tetrahedral geometry has four bonding pairs around the central atom. SO₂ does not have this configuration.
• Linear geometry has a bond - angle of 180°. The bond - angle in SO₂ is 119.0°, so it is not linear.
• For SO₂, the central S atom has two bonding pairs (with O atoms) and one lone pair. According to VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory, the electron - pair geometry is trigonal planar and the molecular geometry (considering only the atoms) is bent.

Answer:

Bent