H2S Lewis structure

The information on this page is ✔ fact-checked.

H₂S (hydrogen sulfide) has two hydrogen atoms and one sulfur atom.

In the H₂S Lewis structure, there are two single bonds around the sulfur atom, with two hydrogen atoms attached to it, and on the sulfur atom, there are two lone pairs.

Steps

To properly draw the H₂S Lewis structure, follow these steps:

#1 Draw a rough sketch of the structure
#2 Next, indicate lone pairs on the atoms
#3 Indicate formal charges on the atoms, if necessary

Let’s break down each step in more detail.

#1 Draw a rough sketch of the structure

• First, determine the total number of valence electrons

In the periodic table, hydrogen lies in group 1, and sulfur lies in group 16.

Hence, hydrogen has one valence electron and sulfur has six valence electrons.

Since H₂S has two hydrogen atoms and one sulfur atom, so…

Valence electrons of two hydrogen atoms = 1 × 2 = 2
Valence electrons of one sulfur atom = 6 × 1 = 6

And the total valence electrons = 2 + 6 = 8

Learn how to find: Hydrogen valence electrons and Sulfur valence electrons

• Second, find the total electron pairs

We have a total of 8 valence electrons. And when we divide this value by two, we get the value of total electron pairs.

Total electron pairs = total valence electrons ÷ 2

So the total electron pairs = 8 ÷ 2 = 4

• Third, determine the central atom

Here hydrogen can not be the central atom. Because the central atom is bonded with at least two other atoms, and hydrogen has only one electron in its last shell, so it can not make more than one bond.

Hence, here we have to assume that the central atom is sulfur.

Therefore, place sulfur in the center and hydrogens on either side.

• And finally, draw the rough sketch

#2 Next, indicate lone pairs on the atoms

Here, we have a total of 4 electron pairs. And two S — H bonds are already marked. So we have to only mark the remaining two electron pairs as lone pairs on the sketch.

Also remember that sulfur is a period 3 element, so it can keep more than 8 electrons in its last shell. And hydrogen is a period 1 element, so it can not keep more than 2 electrons in its last shell.

Always start to mark the lone pairs from outside atoms. Here, the outside atoms are hydrogens. But no need to mark on hydrogen, because each hydrogen has already two electrons.

So for sulfur, there are two lone pairs.

Mark the lone pairs on the sketch as follows:

#3 Indicate formal charges on the atoms, if necessary

Use the following formula to calculate the formal charges on atoms:

Formal charge = valence electrons – nonbonding electrons – ½ bonding electrons

For each hydrogen atom, formal charge = 1 – 0 – ½ (2) = 0

For sulfur atom, formal charge = 6 – 4 – ½ (4) = 0

Here, both sulfur and hydrogen atoms do not have charges, so no need to mark the charges.

In the above structure, you can see that the central atom (sulfur) forms an octet. And the outside atoms (hydrogens) also form a duet. Hence, the octet rule and duet rule are satisfied.

Therefore, this structure is the stable Lewis structure of H₂S.

Next: OF₂ Lewis structure

📝 Your feedback matters. Visit our contact page.

External links

• https://geometryofmolecules.com/h2s-lewis-structure-molecular-geometry-hybridization-polarity/
• https://whatsinsight.org/h2s-lewis-structure/
• https://www.chemistryscl.com/general/H2S-lewis-structure/index.php
• https://techiescientist.com/h2s-lewis-structure/
• https://www.thegeoexchange.org/chemistry/bonding/Lewis-Structures/H2S-Lewis-structure.html
• https://topblogtenz.com/h2s-molecular-electron-geometry-sh2-lewis-dot-structure-bond-angle/
• https://lambdageeks.com/h2s-lewis-structure/
• https://www.makethebrainhappy.com/2020/03/lewis-dot-structure-for-h2s.html