Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories

Brown - Chemistry: The Central Science 14th Edition

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Brown 14th Edition

Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories

Problem 50d

Chapter 9, Problem 50d

Consider the SCl2 molecule.(d) What valence orbitals, if any, remain unhybridized on the S atom in SCl2?

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Determine the electron configuration of the Sulfur (S) atom. Sulfur is in the 3rd period of the periodic table, so its electron configuration ends in 3p^4.

Step 2: Identify the number of valence electrons for Sulfur. Sulfur has 6 valence electrons.

Step 3: Determine the hybridization of the Sulfur atom in SCl2. Sulfur is bonded to two Chlorine atoms and has two lone pairs of electrons. This requires four orbitals, so Sulfur undergoes sp3 hybridization in SCl2.

Step 4: Identify the unhybridized orbitals. In sp3 hybridization, one s orbital and three p orbitals are hybridized. Since there are only three p orbitals available (px, py, pz), all of them are used in the hybridization process.

Step 5: Conclude that there are no unhybridized valence orbitals on the Sulfur atom in SCl2. All of the valence orbitals are involved in the sp3 hybridization.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Valence Orbitals

Valence orbitals are the outermost orbitals of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding. For sulfur in SCl2, the relevant valence orbitals include the 3s and 3p orbitals. Understanding which orbitals are involved in bonding and which remain unhybridized is crucial for predicting molecular geometry and reactivity.

Hybridization

Hybridization is the process by which atomic orbitals mix to form new hybrid orbitals that can accommodate bonding. In SCl2, sulfur undergoes sp3 hybridization to form two equivalent sp3 hybrid orbitals for bonding with chlorine atoms. Recognizing the hybridization state helps in determining the geometry and bond angles of the molecule.

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule. In SCl2, the molecular geometry is bent due to the presence of lone pairs on the sulfur atom, which influence the spatial arrangement of the bonded chlorine atoms. Understanding molecular geometry is essential for predicting the physical and chemical properties of the molecule.

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