Multiple Choice
How many electrons are present in the electron cloud of a neutral carbon atom?
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10. Periodic Properties of the Elements
The Electron Configuration
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Which of the following represents the noble gas electron configuration for sulfur (S)?
A
[He] 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^4
B
[Ar] 4s^2 3d^4
C
[Ne] 3s^2 3p^4
D
[Ne] 3s^2 3p^6
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the atomic number of sulfur (S), which is 16. This tells us sulfur has 16 electrons in its neutral state.
Recall that noble gas electron configurations use the electron configuration of the previous noble gas as a shorthand to represent the core electrons.
Determine the noble gas that comes before sulfur in the periodic table. Since sulfur is in period 3, the noble gas before it is neon (Ne), which has 10 electrons.
Write the electron configuration for sulfur by starting with the noble gas configuration of neon, then add the remaining electrons to fill the 3s and 3p orbitals: $[Ne] 3s^2 3p^4$.
Compare the given options to this configuration to identify which one correctly represents the noble gas electron configuration for sulfur.
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