Different possible Lewis structures of peroxymonosulfate anion I was trying to draw the Lewis structure of $\ce{HSO5-}$ (peroxymonosulfate), so I came up the structure on the left that satisfies the octet rule. Then, I saw that the correct structure is the one on the right. Why is the structure on the right favored over the one on the left? They both have the same formal charges. So shouldn't the one that satisfies the octet rule be favored over the one with an extended octet?

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So shouldn't the one that satisfies the octet rule be favored over the one with an extended octet?


That's only true when you are comparing resonance structures. Resonance structures only involve movement of electrons and not atoms.

It's not true for different Lewis structures, which are the ones you drew. There are lots of compounds which are perfectly stable but do not (in principle) satisfy the octet rule.

I would have mentioned the extreme instability of your multiple $\ce{O-O}$ single bonds in your alternative proposed structure, but the other answer beat me to it.