Hi.
Just hoping somebody can help on a basic chemistry question I’m stuck on. I’m doing a Bio degree and having not done A level chemistry I am taking the Intro Chem module. The question is about electron configurations:
Which is the correct electronic configuration for sulfur (S)?
a) [Ne] 3s2 3p6
b) [Ne] 3s2 3px2 3py1 3px1
c) [Ne] 3s2 3px2 3py2 3px1
d) [Ne] 3s2 3p3
So, Neon has 10 electrons and Sulfur 16, so there needs to be an extra six after the configuration of Neon. The only one that adds up to six is C but we have never specified the x and y bits of p before, we just put them as in d. However, even if I was to put C why is there 2 px orbitals, shouldn’t it be x, y and z?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.