Question

Which of these elements has four total electrons in its outer p orbitals?

A) barium (Ba)
B) nitrogen (N)
C) silicon (Si)
D) sulphur (S)

Answer 1

The element that has four total electrons in its outer P orbitals is

Sulphur (s) (answer D)

Sulphur is in group 16 and period 3 in the periodic table therefore Sulphur is in atomic number 16.

Sulphur (S) electronic configuration is 1S2 2S2 2P6 3S2 3P4 or [Ne] 3S2 3P4 therefore the 3P4 subshell of sulphur has only 4 electrons.

Answer 2

SulphurS 161s22s22p63s23p4