NEETChemistryClassification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
Identify the correct statement regarding Oxygen and Sulphur:
Options
- AOxygen has 6 valence orbitals and can form d -p multiple bonds.
- BSulphur is restricted to a maximum covalency of four because it lacks vacant d -orbitals in its ground state.
- CSulphur has 9 valence orbitals and can expand its covalency to form d -p multiple bonds.
- DOxygen has 4 valence orbitals but can form d -p multiple bonds due to its exceptionally small size.
Correct answer
C. Sulphur has 9 valence orbitals and can expand its covalency to form d -p multiple bonds.
Step-by-step solution
Oxygen (Group 16, n=2 ) has 6 valence electrons but only 4 valence orbitals (one 2s and three 2p ). Due to the complete absence of d -orbitals in the second shell, it cannot expand its octet and forms only p -p multiple bonds. Sulphur (Group 16, n=3 ) has 6 valence electrons and 9 valence orbitals (one 3s , three 3p , and five 3d ). The presence of vacant 3d orbitals in its valence shell allows Sulphur to expand its covalency (up to six) and form d -p multiple bonds (e.g., in SO₂ and SO₃ ). Therefore, the statement