Multiple Choice
How many valence electrons does sulfur (S) have?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
Valence Electrons of Elements
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How many valence electrons does an atom of sulfur have?
A
4
B
8
C
2
D
6
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the element sulfur on the periodic table. Sulfur has the atomic number 16, which means it has 16 electrons in a neutral atom.
Determine the electron configuration of sulfur to understand how its electrons are distributed in different shells and subshells. The electron configuration is written as $1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^4$.
Recognize that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell (highest principal quantum number, n). For sulfur, the outermost shell is the third shell (n=3).
Count the electrons in the outermost shell: sulfur has $3s^2$ and $3p^4$ electrons, which adds up to $2 + 4 = 6$ valence electrons.
Conclude that sulfur has 6 valence electrons, which explains its chemical behavior and bonding characteristics.
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