Question

select the correct answer
which of these elements has four total electrons in its outer p orbitals?
a. barium (ba)
b. nitrogen (n)
c. silicon (si)
d. sulfur (s)

Explanation:

1. First, find the electron configuration for each element:

• Barium (Ba, atomic number 56): [Xe] 6s². Its outer valence shell (6th) has only s electrons, no p electrons.
• Nitrogen (N, atomic number 7): 1s² 2s² 2p³. Its outer p orbital (2p) has 3 electrons.
• Silicon (Si, atomic number 14): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p². Its outer p orbital (3p) has 2 electrons, and the outer s orbital (3s) has 2 electrons. The total electrons in the outer (3rd) shell's orbitals (s + p) is 2 + 2 = 4.
• Sulfur (S, atomic number 16): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴. Its outer p orbital (3p) has 4 electrons, plus 2 s electrons, for a total of 6 outer shell electrons.

1. The question asks for the element with four total electrons in its outer p orbitals. Sulfur's 3p orbital contains exactly 4 electrons.

Answer:

D. sulfur (S)