how many valence electrons does a neutral sulfur atom have?
The correct answer and explanation is:
A neutral sulfur atom has 6 valence electrons.
Sulfur (S) is an element in Group 16 of the periodic table, also known as the chalcogens. The number of valence electrons for an element corresponds to its group number. Elements in Group 16 have six valence electrons because they have six electrons in their outermost electron shell.
In a neutral sulfur atom, the total number of electrons is equal to the atomic number, which is 16. The electron configuration of sulfur is as follows: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴. This means that the first two electrons fill the 1s orbital, the next two fill the 2s orbital, and the next six fill the 2p orbitals. The remaining four electrons occupy the 3s and 3p orbitals.
The 3s orbital contains two electrons, and the 3p orbital contains four electrons, which gives sulfur a total of six electrons in its outermost shell. These six electrons are the valence electrons.
Valence electrons are important because they determine how an atom interacts with other atoms, particularly in forming chemical bonds. Since sulfur has six valence electrons, it typically forms two bonds in compounds to complete its octet. It can gain two electrons to fill its outer shell, or it can share electrons with other atoms, such as in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). The presence of six valence electrons makes sulfur highly reactive in chemical reactions, particularly in the formation of covalent bonds with other nonmetals.