How many lone pairs of electrons are present around the central atom in H₂O?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The chemical formula H₂O seems to be a typographical error. Assuming the correct formula is H2SO4 (sulfuric acid), the central atom sulfur (S) has 6 valence electrons. In the structure of H2SO4, sulfur is double-bonded to two oxygen atoms and single-bonded to two other oxygen atoms (each of which is also bonded to a hydrogen atom). This leaves no lone pairs on the sulfur atom itself. However, the question seems to contain a mistake in the chemical formula. If we correct for this and interpret the question as asking about a generic central atom in a correctly written compound, typically, sulfur in its common compounds can have 0, 1, or 2 lone pairs depending on its oxidation state and the specific compound. Without a correct and specific formula, a precise answer can't be given, but for sulfuric acid (H2SO4), sulfur has no lone pairs. Given the options and the likely error in the question, the closest correct interpretation based on common sulfur compounds would be 2, assuming the question intended to ask about a typical divalent sulfur compound with lone pairs.

How Many Lone Pairs of Electrons Are Present Around the Central