Question

Can someone help me write the electron dot structure and structural formula for sulfur hexachloride? (SCl6)

Answer 1

Yes, how many valence electrons are we dealing with in this molecule?

Answer 2

sulfur has 6 valence electrons, and chlorine has 7. so 13 total

Answer 3

oops, sorry not 13

Answer 4

how many chlorine atoms do you have?

Answer 5

6 chlorine atoms total, so \(6+7\times6\) = 48 total

Answer 6

Great...now which element must be at the center and why?

Answer 7

sulfur at the center...but i don't know why

Answer 8

because there is only one sulfur atom, and that's the only way it could work...

Answer 9

It is because sulfur has d orbitals and can have more than 8 electrons around it.

Answer 10

ok, now which rule governs the total number of electrons that surround each chlorine?

Answer 11

octet rule?

Answer 12

funny thing..i excell at math (reason for my high SS), but i suck at chem

Answer 13

great...so now place S at the center at place 8 electrons around each chlorine