In the SO2 molecule, sulfur S is the central atom. To determine its hybridization, we need to consider the number of bonding groups atoms and lone pairs of electrons around the central atom.Sulfur is in group 6 of the periodic table, so it has 6 valence electrons. In SO2, sulfur forms two double bonds with the two oxygen atoms. This accounts for 4 of the valence electrons 2 per double bond . The remaining 2 valence electrons form a lone pair on the sulfur atom.Now, we count the number of electron domains around the central atom:- 2 double bonds = 2 electron domains- 1 lone pair = 1 electron domainTotal electron domains = 3Three electron domains correspond to sp hybridization. Therefore, the hybridization of the central atom sulfur in the SO2 molecule is sp.