Structure and Bonding
Gaseous SO3 is a trigonal planar molecule of D3h symmetry, as predicted by VSEPR theory. SO3 belongs to the D3h point group.
In terms of electron-counting formalism, the sulfur atom has an oxidation state of +6 and a formal charge of +2 (note that in the optimum Lewis structure, two sulfur-oxygen bonds are dative bonds as quantum chemical calculations have shown that d-orbitals are not involved in bonding). Therefore, 3 double bonds shown in the top diagram are misleading. One double and two single (dative) bonds should be shown, resulting in 3 resonance structures. In any case, Sulfur trioxide is a non-polar molecule.
Read more about this topic: Sulfur Trioxide
Famous quotes containing the words structure and, structure and/or bonding:
“Science is intimately integrated with the whole social structure and cultural tradition. They mutually support one other—only in certain types of society can science flourish, and conversely without a continuous and healthy development and application of science such a society cannot function properly.”
—Talcott Parsons (1902–1979)
“The verbal poetical texture of Shakespeare is the greatest the world has known, and is immensely superior to the structure of his plays as plays. With Shakespeare it is the metaphor that is the thing, not the play.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)
“At the heart of male bonding is this experience of boys in early puberty: they know they must break free from their mothers and the civilized world of women, but they are not ready yet for the world of men, so they are only at home with other boys, equally outcast, equally frightened, and equally involved in posturing what they believe to be manhood.”
—Frank Pittman (20th century)