Valence Electrons in Sulfur (S)
Calculate the number of valence electrons in Sulfur using its electron configuration step by step.
Valence Electrons in Sulfur
Determine the number of valence electrons in Sulfur (S, Element 16)
Step 1: Look up the electronic configuration for Sulfur
The abbreviated (condensed) ground electronic configuration for Sulfur is:
[Ne] 3s2 3p4
Calculate Electronic Configuration for Sulfur
Step 2: Identify the outermost electrons using the electronic configuration
Electrons in atomic orbitals outside the [Ne] core are the outermost electrons:
3s2 3p4
Step 3: Use the principle quantum number to identify the valence electrons
Extract the principle quantum number, n, and number of electrons from the electron configuration:
| Electron Configuration | n | Orbital | Number of Electrons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3s2 | 3 | s | 2 |
| 3p4 | 3 | p | 4 |
The outermost electrons with the largest principal quantum number (in this case, n = 3) are valence electrons.
Answer
Sulfur (S) has 6 (2 + 4) valence electrons.
