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

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Answer 1 · 2015-11-01T16:44:06

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

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 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.