In the electronic structure of H2SO4, the total number of unshared electrons is : — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Determine the total number of valence electrons in H2SO4: H (2*1) + S (6) + O (4*6) = 32 electrons (16 pairs). Step 2: Draw the Lewis structure of H2SO4: S forms two single bonds to -OH groups and two double bonds to =O groups (a total of 6 bonding pairs or 12 bonding electrons). The hydrogen atoms form two single covalent bonds (4 bonding electrons). Step 3: This leaves 32 - 16 = 16 non-bonding (unshared) electrons, which reside as two lone pairs on each of the four oxygen atoms.