SO3, which is the chemical formula for sulfur trioxide, consists of a sulfur atom (S) bonded to three oxygen atoms (O). To determine the number of lone pairs of electrons in the molecule, we need to understand its Lewis structure.
In the Lewis structure of SO3, sulfur is the central atom bonded to three oxygen atoms. Sulfur follows the octet rule, which means it tends to form bonds until it is surrounded by eight electrons (or two electrons in the case of hydrogen). Oxygen, on the other hand, usually follows the duet rule, which allows it to be surrounded by only two electrons.
To complete the octets of both sulfur and oxygen atoms, double bonds are formed between sulfur and two of the oxygen atoms. The remaining oxygen atom forms a single bond with sulfur. The Lewis structure of SO3 can be represented as follows:
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