Why is the #SO_3# molecule an electrophile?
1 Answer
Because similar to
Now, I can't actually find an
I cross-checked it with the isoelectronic
I assume you are unfamiliar with group orbitals, but it is basically a way of treating the interactions of multiple atomic orbitals at the same time.
THE MO DIAGRAM FOR SO3
Here is the MO diagram for
To account for the electrons, we have:
- The
#3a_1'# and#2e'# orbitals holding one lone pair for each oxygen (6 electrons total). They are closest in energy to oxygen's atomic orbitals, and so they mainly belong to oxygen. - The
#1a_2'# and#1e''# holding the other lone pair for each oxygen (6 electrons total). These nonbonding orbitals are from the#2p_x# of one oxygen and the#2p_z# of the two other oxygens, which are simply incompatible and cannot overlap with anything from sulfur. They are closest in energy to oxygen's atomic orbitals, and so they mainly belong to oxygen. - The
#4a_1'# ,#3e'# ,#1a_2''# , and#4e'# orbitals contributing to the#sp^2# double bonds (12 electrons total).
THE LUMO OF A LEWIS ACID IS THE ORBITAL THAT INTERACTS WITH THE HOMO OF A LEWIS BASE
The main thing here is that we can see the
It is a
That
In the context of Organic Chemistry, a Lewis acid is also called an electrophile, or a lover of electrons.
Since