NY Regents Chemistry Exam August 2023 Questions 51-52
The four naturally occurring isotopes of sulfur are sulfur-32, sulfur-33, sulfur-34, and sulfur-36.
51 State the number of valence electrons in an atom of sulfur-32 in the ground state.
Solution: We need to look at the Periodic Table on the Reference Table. Below each element we can find an electron configuration. For sulfur it is 2-8-6. The last number represents the number of valence electrons.
There are 6 valence electrons in an atom of sulfur-32
52 State the number of neutrons in an atom of sulfur-33.
Solution: Mass number is equal to the number of protons plus neutrons. Mass number is given after the dash and is 33. The number of protons is equal to the atomic number which can be found on the Periodic Table, below each element, in bold. The atomic number of sulfur is 16.
Mass number = protons + neutrons
33= 16+ neutrons
neutrons = 17
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