The conversation between human and AI assistant.
How do you determine the Lewis dot structure for sulfate?
Okay, I understand. So what's next?
Next, we need to arrange the atoms properly so that they obey the octet rule. Sulphur has two lone pairs, and it will utilize two of its valence electrons to form a single bond with oxygen. Oxygen will take up six of its valence electrons to complete the bond with sulfur, leaving two lone pairs on each oxygen atom.