Question

How many ‘p’ electrons are present in a sulphur atom?

Answer 1

Hint: Before answering this question, we should first know that In an element, the electrons are distributed in their atomic orbitals i.e Electronic configuration. It follows a certain procedure or notation where all-electron-containing atomic subshells (the number that is in the superscript) are put in a pattern and sequence. The atomic number of Sulphur (S) is 16.

Complete answer:
Sulphur is denoted by symbol S (${}_{16}^{32}S$). In the periodic table, sulphur is present in the p-block of the periodic table. The group in which it is located is VI A.
Atomic Number (Z) = Number of electrons = Number of protons
The atomic number of sulphur is 16.
So, Atomic Number (Z) = 16
In Sulphur, 16 electrons are present.
Now, we have to write the electronic configuration of sulphur-
The electronic configuration of sulphur is $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^{2}3p^4$.
The s electrons that are present in the sulphur are 2+2+2 = 6.
So, the p electrons that are present in the sulphur are 6+4 = 10.

Note:
The problem we face while writing the electronic configuration is that they are very lengthy and often make our work more, In this, we use abbreviations or condensed notations in place of the standard notations. The abbreviated notation is known as shorthand configuration. In this, the sequence of filled subshells that is relative to the electronic configuration of a noble gas is replaced by the symbol of that noble gas. The symbol of noble gas is written in square brackets.