Sulphur (S)
[Ne] 3s² 3p⁴. 2 unpaired electrons, period 3, group 16, p block.
Element or ion
Type a symbol, a name or an atomic number, add a charge such as Fe3+ or Cl-, or tap an element in the table. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.
SSulphur, Z = 16, 32.06 u
[Ne] 3s2 3p4
In full: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴
- Blockp block
- Period3
- Group16
- Valence6
- Unpaired2
- MagneticPara
Last electron 3p
- n3shell
- l1p subshell
- m−1orbital
- s−½spin down
Step by step
- Sulphur has 16 electrons.
- Fill in (n + l) order: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴.
- Write the subshells in order of n: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴.
- Replace the neon core with [Ne]: [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴.
Sulphur (S): the numbers
| Atomic number | 16 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 32.06 u |
| Period | 3 |
| Group | 16 |
| Block | p block |
| Valence electrons | 6 |
| Unpaired electrons | 2 |
| Magnetic | paramagnetic |
| Last electron | 3p: n = 3, l = 1, m = −1, s = −1/2 |
Sulphur (S): quick answers
What is the electronic configuration of sulphur?
Sulphur has 16 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴, or [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴ in short.
How many unpaired electrons does sulphur have?
Sulphur has 2 unpaired electrons, so it is paramagnetic. Put one electron in each box of a subshell before pairing (Hund’s rule) to see them.
What are the quantum numbers of the last electron of sulphur?
The last electron goes into 3p: n = 3, l = 1, m = −1, s = −1/2. Orbitals fill from m = −l up, spin +½ first.