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