The nature of the sulphur-oxygen bond

Abstract

The electronic structures of certain molecules containing oxy-sulphur bonds are analyzed insome detail by means of the molecular orbital method. I t is possible to make rough calculations which, despite the complexity of the system s considered, are nevertheless reasonably reliable. The physical and chemical properties of sulphur dioxide, sulphur trioxide and molecules of the types R 2 SO 2 and R 2 SO are discussed on the basis of these structures. In all these molecules it appears that the oxy-sulphur linkages are best described as double-bonded. A successful correlation between the molecular orbital criterion of bond strengths, namely, the bond orders, and the oxy-sulphur bond force constants may be set up. The measure of agreement attained between observed and predicted properties is quite satisfactory.