Is So2 Ionic Or Covalent

Is Sulfur dioxide (SO2) ionic or covalent? Types of bond in SO2

Home > Is SO2 ionic or covalent?

Is SO2 ionic or covalent? SO2 is a covalent molecule. Because the bond is formed between one atom of sulfur (S) and two atoms of oxygen (O) by the sharing of electrons. The deviation in electronegativity between sulfur (Due south) and oxygen (O) atoms on the Pauling calibration is non large plenty to make an ionic bond in the SO2 compound.

Let's talk over in detail, Is Sulfur dioxide (SO2) ionic or covalent? Bond types, etc.

Sulfur dioxide is made up of 1 sulfur and two oxygen atoms that accept a pungent odor similar to a just-struck friction match and announced as colorless gas having the chemical formula SO2. It is soluble in h2o very easily and becomes liquid when under pressure. Information technology is a toxic gas and tin crusade astringent health hazards when exposed to it for a long time.

Proper name of Molecule	Sulfur dioxide (And then₂)
Ionic or Covalent?	Covalent
Molar mass	64.066 thousand mol^−one
Nature	Acidic

Why Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is an covalent compound?

A covalent chemical compound is a chemic compound that is made when two nonmetals or 2 p-cake elements together share their valence electrons with each other to complete the octet and attains stability.

The sharing of valence electrons betwixt ii atoms makes a bond which is called a covalent bond. "Valence electrons are the outermost beat electron of an atom".

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a covalent compound. Because the sulfur (South) and oxygen (O) atoms are nonmetals in nature, they don't have any tendency to either accept or donate the electrons but both sulfur and oxygen atoms have a trend to share their valence electron with each other and hence, complete the octet and makes a stable SO2 covalent compound.

Equally we meet in the higher up figure, the three atoms(two oxygen and one sulfur) share a full of eight electrons with each other through the assistance of two double bonds. Hence, the bond formed in the SO2 compound is covalent in nature as shared bonding electrons occur betwixt the sulfur and oxygen cantlet.

Examples of some compounds that class covalent bonds – are H_iiO, H₂South, NH_iii, NO₂, AlCl₃, etc.

Besides Read:

Is H2O ionic or covalent?
Is NH3 ionic or covalent?
Is H2S ionic or covalent?
Is NO2 ionic or covalent?
Is AlCl3 ionic or covalent?

How covalent bail is formed in SO2?

The covalent bond is formed in SO2 because of sharing of electrons occur between sulfur and oxygen atom.

Let'due south see how covalent bail formation takes place in SO2.

Showtime of all, there are 2 types of atoms nowadays in the sulfur dioxide molecule – sulfur and an oxygen atom.

⇒ The sulfur atom is a nonmetal that belongs to Grouping xvi or 6A in the periodic table and has vi valence electrons in the outermost trounce.

⇒ The oxygen atom is also a nonmetal that too belongs to Group 16 or 6A in the periodic table and has a half-dozen valence electron in its outermost shell.

Every cantlet wants to complete its octet i.e. having 8 electrons in the outermost shell and attaining stability. Atoms can consummate their octet past bonding with other elements or atoms with the assist of either sharing of electrons or the complete transfer of electrons.

In the case of an SO2 molecule, when sulfur and oxygen atoms are placed together, they will share the electrons with each other to complete their octet and hence, makes a covalent bail.

As nosotros encounter in the higher up figure of covalent bond formation in SO2, sulfur atoms have vi valence electrons represented equally a blue dot, and oxygen has likewise six valence electrons represented every bit orange dots in their outermost shell.

Both sulfur and oxygen atom needs two more electrons to complete their octet, hence, both of these(1 sulfur and two oxygen atoms) shares a total of 8 valence electrons with each other.

Sulfur shares a total of fourvalence electrons with the 2 oxygen atoms. Each oxygen atom shares twovalence electrons with sulfur.

The three atoms(1 sulfur and two oxygen atoms) will share a total of viii valence electrons, the equivalent of two double bonds.

Therefore, the bond formed between sulfur and oxygen cantlet is covalent in nature.

Notation: The alone pair electrons can never take parts in chemical bonding or they never share electrons with any of the atoms. The shared pair of electrons is also called bonded pair of electrons.

Why is SO2 not a ionic chemical compound?

The SO2 molecule is not an ionic compound because the difference in electronegativity value between sulfur and an oxygen atom is not large enough to make an ionic bond between them according to the Pauling calibration.

According to the Pauling calibration of electronegativity-

The covalent bail is formed between the two atoms when their electronegativity difference occurs less than 1.vii.
The ionic bond is formed between the two atoms when their electronegativity difference occurs more than i.seven.

Now check the electronegativity difference in SO2 molecule-

⇒ The electronegativity value for sulfur atom = 2.58

⇒ The electronegativity value for oxygen cantlet = three.4

∴ The difference in the electronegativity between sulfur and oxygen atoms = 0.82

So, the difference in electronegativity value between sulfur and oxygen atom is less than 1.7, hence, it is low plenty to brand a covalent bond betwixt them every bit per the Pauling scale of electronegativity.

Too, the main difference betwixt ionic and covalent is that an ionic bond is formed when either donating or accepting the electrons occurs betwixt 2 atoms, and a covalent bail is formed when but sharing of electrons occurs between ii atoms.

The sulfur and oxygen atoms in the SO2 molecule tin never transfer their electrons because their octet can exist completed only when they share the electrons with each other, hence, the bond formed in the SO2 molecule is covalent in nature rather than ionic.

Examples of some ionic compounds – MgO, Na₂O, MgCl_two, NaCl, etc.

As well Read:

Is MgO ionic or covalent?
Is Na2O ionic or covalent?
Is MgCl2 ionic or covalent?
Is NaCl ionic or covalent?

As well read: How to tell if compound is ionic or covalent?

Is SO2 pure covalent compound?

So, Is SO2 a pure covalent bond? No, it is not. Get-go of all, sympathize the bodily ways of a pure covalent bond.

We know, SO2 is a covalent compound but whether it is pure or not that depends on the sharing of electrons that occur between the atoms(sulfur and oxygen).

A pure covalent bond is formed when the electronegativity values of the ii or more atoms in a molecule are the aforementioned. If the electronegativity value is the same for two atoms, then the sharing of electrons between them is also equal, hence, the bond forms between them are pure covalent in nature.

In short, a pure covalent bond is formed betwixt the atoms when they share an equal number of electrons.

Merely SO2 or sulfur dioxide molecule is not a pure covalent compound because the difference in electronegativity value in sulfur(2.58) and oxygen(three.iv) acquired unequal sharing of electrons between them.

The electrons are more shared towards the oxygen cantlet as it is more electronegative than sulfur, hence, unequal sharing of electrons occurs in the SO2 compound, which makes information technology a non pure covalent compound.

Is SO2 polar covalent or nonpolar covalent compound?

A polar covalent compound is formed when the unequal sharing of electrons occurs between two atoms because of their difference in electronegativity value.

When the difference in electronegativity value between two atoms lies between 0.4 to 1.7, and so the bond formed betwixt ii atoms is polar in nature according to the Pauling scale of electronegativity.

A nonpolar covalent compound is formed when the equal sharing of electrons occurs between two atoms because of the very little divergence in their electronegativity value.

When the difference in electronegativity value between two atoms is less than 0.iv, then the bond formed between ii atoms is nonpolar in nature according to the Pauling scale of electronegativity.

So, Is SO2 a polar covalent or nonpolar covalent compound? SO2 is a polar covalent compound because the electronegativity difference between sulfur and an oxygen atom is 0.82 which is in the range of the Pauling scale of the polar chemical compound from 0.4 to 1.7.

Also, the unequal sharing of electrons occurs in SO2 molecules because oxygen(3.iv) is higher electronegative than a sulfur atom(2.58), therefore, it will pull more electrons towards itself, hence, the oxygen atom induced a negative charge on it and sulfur atoms get a slightly positive charge.

The separation of charges generates the dipole moment directed from positive to negative, hence, due to all these a bond is formed between sulfur and oxygen, which is called a polar bond.

Let'due south check – Is SO2 polar or nonpolar?

Properties of sulfur dioxide

Information technology has a molar mass of 64.066 g mol⁻¹.
It has a pungent odor similar to a just-struck match.
It has a boiling bespeak of −x °C and a melting point of −72 °C.
Information technology has a dipole moment of i.62 D.
It is a bent molecule and has a diagonal coordination geometry.
Sulfur dioxide is the third most pregnant gas in the atmosphere of Venus.
It is a potent oxidizing agent and also acts as a reducing agent.
It is not flammable.

Uses of sulfur dioxide

It is commonly used equally a nutrient preservative in food industries.
It is used as an antioxidant to foreclose rotting in fruits.
It is used to preserve the colors of soft drinks.
Information technology is used equally a bleaching agent and besides as a disinfectant.
Information technology is used equally a reagent and a solvent in the laboratory.

FAQ

How many covalent bonds are nowadays in an SO2 molecule?

Acovalent bond is formed when sharing of electrons is done between the atoms to attain the noble gas configuration.

"SO2 has ii double covalent bonds, 1 with each oxygen atom.

Why is SO2 polar covalent compound?

SO2 is a polar covalent chemical compound. Considering the electronegativity difference between sulfur and an oxygen cantlet is 0.82 which is in the range of the Pauling scale of the polar compound from 0.4 to 1.7.

Likewise, the unequal sharing of electrons occurs in SO2 molecules because oxygen(3.4) is higher electronegative than a sulfur atom(2.58), hence, it will pull more electrons towards itself, hence, the oxygen atom induced a negative charge on it and sulfur atoms get a slightly positive accuse.

The separation of charges generates the dipole moment directed from positive to negative, hence, due to all these a bail is formed betwixt sulfur and oxygen, which is called apolar bail.

Summary

- Is Sulfur dioxide (SO2) ionic or covalent? SO2 is a covalent compound. Because the difference in electronegativity between sulfur (S) and oxygen (O) is low enough to result in sharing of electrons which leads to the formation of a covalent bail in SO2.
- The covalent bond formed in the SO2 molecule is polar in nature.
- SO2 is not a pure covalent chemical compound considering of the unequal sharing of electrons between atoms.
- The difference in electronegativity between Oxygen (O) and Sulfur(S) is 3.4–ii.58=0.82 which is lower than one.7, hence, according to the Pauling scale, the bond formed between oxygen (O) and a sulfur (Due south) atom is covalent, that makes, SO2 compound, covalent in nature.