How do you draw an atomic level diagram for 2S+3O2=2SO3 ?

1 Answer
Nov 1, 2015

I think you are asking how to show the way the atoms combine in the reaction.

Explanation:

The easiest way is first to break up the #"O"_2# molecules into atoms.

#"O"_2 → 2"O"#

Then we can re-write the equation for the reaction as

#"2S + 6O → 2SO"_3#

or

#"1S + 3O → 1SO"_3#

The #"S"# atom in #"SO"_3# is in the middle with three #"O"# atoms attached to it.

If we want to show how the atoms combine, the diagram might look like this:

Diagram

Structure A isn't a good structure, because it doesn't give the #"S"# atom eight valence electrons.

So we use a pair of electrons from an #"O"# atom to form an #"S=O"# double bond (Structure B).

Structure B still isn't the best structure for #"SO"_3#, but it gives every atom an octet in its valence shell.

If this isn't what you wanted, please let me know.