Atom Placement

[Phoebe Chen 4I]

When you have a molecule like SO2CL2, how are you supposed to know how to arrange the oxygen and chlorines around the central atom? Are they placed next to each other or opposite each other? Or does it not matter?

[RachaelKoh3A]

SO2Cl2 has a tetrahedral shape. So it doesn't matter where you put the Cl or O atoms because it will be the same regardless.

[Becky Belisle 1A]

It seems that in the VSEPR model the chlorine atoms are next to each other and the oxygens are next to each other.

[sophiebillings1E]

I think usually it will specify if it's important, however, the arrangement does affect the polarity, so I think it depends on what the question is asking.

[Anna O 2C]

It won't really matter in the 3D version because even though 4 atoms might seem like they are next to each other on paper, they will actually all be an equal distance from the atoms next to each other in the tetrahedral shape. As long as you know it's a tetrahedral shape, that implies that they are all equally separated from each other.