Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. sp^3 hybridization, regular tetrahedral geometry

  1. Step 1: Sulfur in SO4 2- forms 4 equivalent sigma bonds with oxygen atoms with zero lone pairs (steric number 4). Step 2. The four bond pairs repel equally, producing sp^3 hybridization with a regular tetrahedral geometry (109.5 degree angles). Answer: sp^3 hybridization, regular tetrahedral geometry. Why not the others: sp^2 is trigonal planar; sp^3d^2 is octahedral (SF6); dsp^2 is square planar.

Practise more Qualitative Analysis, Chemical Bonding and Periodic Trends.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed Medical College Admission Test (Bangladesh) mock tests.