Comment on the nature of two S−O bonds formed in

The electronic configuration of S is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4.

During the formation of SO2, one electron from 3p orbital goes to the 3d orbital and S undergoes sp2 hybridization. Two of these orbitals form sigma bonds with two oxygen atoms and the third contains a lone pair. p-orbital and d-orbital contain an unpaired electron each. One of these electrons forms pπ- pπ bond with one oxygen atom and the other forms pπ- dπ bond with the other oxygen. This is the reason SO2 has a bent structure. Also, it is a resonance hybrid of structures I and II.

Both S−O bonds are equal in length (143 pm) and have a multiple bond character.