[is3zzz]

Does the molecule SO₂ have..

One single and one double bond OR does it have two double bonds?

I thought it would be one single and one double bond....but then wikipedia shows the molecule having 2 double bonds.  So which is it?

[ARGOS++]

Dear Is3zzz;

Sorry!  - This time 100 Points for "wiki".

Good Luck!
                   ARGOS⁺⁺

[LQ43]

The Lewis structure of SO2 would show 1 double and 1 single bond and since there are 2 possibilities for these positions, there are 2 resonance structures.

I think Wikipedia is trying to show the resonance hybrid of SO2, which has a bond order of 1.5,

see attached,

[nlee5687]

So does this mean it has one single and one double bond as the final answer?

[agrobert]

It has two double bonds, sulfur is hypervalent.

[LQ43]

It has two double bonds, sulfur is hypervalent.

okay I agree, this would make the formal charges for both O and S equal to zero