Question

Based on electron configuration, which of these elements would exhibit chemical behavior most like that of oxygen?
126C168O11H147N3216S3115P, where the upper index is atomic mass and the lower index is atomic number.
A) carbon
B) hydrogen
C) nitrogen
D) sulfur
E) phosphorus

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Sulfur

Explanation:

Electrons are filled in shells. Oxygen has a total of 8 electrons while sulfur has a total of 16 electrons. Out of the total eight electrons, the first shell has two electrons while six electrons are filled in the “s and p” orbits of the second shell giving the outer shell a configuration of "2s2, 2p4".

Likewise, out of the total 16 electrons of sulfur, the last 6 electrons are filled in "s" and "p" orbits of the third shell. Sulfur has a total of six electrons in its outer most shell "3s² 3p⁴". Since the electrons present in the outer most shell are available for chemical reactions and determine the chemical nature of the atom, oxygen and sulfur should exhibit the same chemical properties.