
Lewis structures, devised by Gilbert N. Lewis, visually represent electron arrangements in molecules. By depicting valence electrons as dots and bonds as lines, Lewis structures predict a molecule's shape and properties based on the octet rule. This rule states that atoms tend to achieve stability by having eight electrons in their outer shell. Lewis structures adhere to this rule, offering a clear picture of chemical bonding.
Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), with the CAS number 67-68-5, is a colorless liquid with a slightly garlic-like odor. It is composed of one sulfur atom bonded to two methyl groups (CH3). DMSO is widely used as a solvent in various industrial applications and as a cryoprotectant in biological research. It is also known for its high solubility and permeability through cell membranes.

Let's dive into drawing the Lewis structure of DMSO:
Step 1: Identify the Central Atom: Sulfur (S) is the central atom in DMSO because it's less electronegative than carbon.
Step 2: Calculate Total Valence Electrons:Sulfur contributes 6 valence electrons, and each carbon contributes 4, sulfur contributes 6 valence electrons, and each carbon contributes 4, oxygen contributes 6 valence electrons, giving a total of 6 + (2 x 4) +(1 x 6) +6= 26 valence electrons.
Step 3: Arrange Electrons Around Atoms: Connect each carbon atom to the central sulfur atom with a single bond (line) and distribute the remaining electrons as lone pairs around each carbon atom and sulfur atom.
Step 4: Fulfill the Octet Rule: Ensure each carbon atom has 8 electrons (2 lone pairs and 2 bonding pairs), and the sulfur atom has 8 electrons (2 lone pairs and 2 bonding pairs).
Step 5: Check for Formal Charges: Formal charges may not be necessary as all atoms have achieved the octet rule.
The structure of dimethyl sulfoxide features a central sulfur atom double-bonded to one oxygen atom and single-bonded to two methyl (CH?) groups. Therefore, the molecular geometry of dimethyl sulfoxide is bent around the sulfur atom. The bond angle between the C-S-C atoms is approximately 95.8°, while the H-C-H bond angle in the methyl groups is about 109.5°, reflecting the geometry influenced by the double bond to oxygen.

This theory addresses electron repulsion and the need for compounds to adopt stable forms. In dimethyl sulfoxide, two sigma bonds form between sulfur and the carbon atoms of the methyl groups, and one double bond forms between sulfur and oxygen. The presence of the double bond and lone pairs on the sulfur atom leads to increased repulsion that modifies the ideal bond angles. The bonding involves the effective overlap of orbitals, contributing to the molecule's stability.
The Lewis structure indicates that dimethyl sulfoxide adopts a bent geometry. In this arrangement, the two methyl groups and the double-bonded oxygen are positioned around the central sulfur atom, with the C-S-C bond angle measuring approximately 95.8° and the H-C-H bond angle being about 109.5°.
To understand the bonding in dimethyl sulfoxide, we examine the orbitals involved in its formation. The sulfur atom's ground state configuration is 3s23p?. In the formation of dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfur undergoes hybridization to form sp3 hybrid orbitals, allowing it to form two sigma bonds with the methyl groups and one double bond with the oxygen atom.
The bond angles in dimethyl sulfoxide are approximately 95.8° for the C-S-C angle and 109.5° for the H-C-H angle. The S-C bond length is approximately 0.181 nm (181 pm), indicating the strength and character of the bonds in the molecule.
| Dimethylsulfoxide Cas 67-68-5 | |
| Molecular formula | (CH3)2SO |
| Molecular shape | Bent |
| Polarity | Polar |
| Hybridization | sp3 hybridization |
| Bond Angle | C-S-C: 95.8°, H-C-H: 109.5° |
| Bond length | C-S-C: 95.8°, H-C-H: 109.5° |
To determine if a Lewis structure is polar, examine the molecular geometry and bond polarity. In the case of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), the Lewis structure shows sulfur at the center bonded to two methyl groups. DMSO has a trigonal planar geometry, where the two methyl groups are symmetrically arranged around the sulfur atom. Although the S-C bonds are polar, the overall molecular geometry results in a polar molecule due to the presence of lone pairs on sulfur.
To calculate the total bond energy of DMSO, first, look up the bond energy for a single sulfur-carbon (S-C) bond, which is approximately 250 kJ/mol. DMSO has two S-C bonds, so you multiply the bond energy of one S-C bond by the number of bonds. This gives a total bond energy of 500 kJ/mol for DMSO. This value represents the energy required to break all the S-C bonds in one mole of DMSO molecules.
Bond order is the number of chemical bonds between a pair of atoms. In the Lewis structure of DMSO, each sulfur-carbon bond is a single bond, so the bond order for each S-C bond is 1. If a molecule has resonance structures, bond order is averaged over the different structures, but DMSO does not have resonance, so the bond order remains 1.
Electron groups in a Lewis structure include both bonding pairs (shared electrons) and lone pairs (non-bonded electrons) around an atom. In DMSO, each sulfur atom has four electron groups around it, corresponding to the two S-C bonds (two bonding pairs) and two lone pairs on sulfur.
In a Lewis dot structure, the dots represent valence electrons. Each dot corresponds to one valence electron of an atom. In DMSO, sulfur is surrounded by two bonding pairs (represented by lines in the Lewis structure) and two lone pairs. The dots help visualize how electrons are shared or paired between atoms.
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