$6 + 24 + 2 = 32$ electrons.

Sulfur is surrounded by 4 "items" (the four oxygen atoms). In VSEPR theory, double bonds and single bonds both count as a single "electron group" or "steric region." Steric Number: 4

In the most stable Lewis structure (which minimizes formal charges), Sulfur acts as the central atom, double-bonded to two Oxygen atoms and single-bonded to two Oxygen atoms. Importantly, the sulfur atom has ; all valence electrons are involved in bonding. 2. Electron Geometry of SO42−cap S cap O sub 4 raised to the 2 minus power

Because there are no lone pairs on the sulfur atom to distort the bond angles, the molecular geometry is identical to the electron geometry. Therefore, the Molecular Geometry is Tetrahedral . 4. Bond Angles and Polarity