Question

Answer the following questions about a sulfur ion.

a) # of protons
b) # of electrons
c) Valence Electrons
d) charge

Answer 1

The sulfur ion has 16 protons, gains 2 electrons for a total of 18, which contributes to its -2 charge. It has eight valence electrons after gaining the extra electrons, which make it an anion represented by the symbol S²-.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sulfur ion, after gaining electrons, can be described with the following characteristics:

• Number of protons: 16
• Number of electrons: After gaining two electrons, the sulfur ion has 18.
• Valence Electrons: The valence shell of the sulfur ion has six electrons inherently, but after it gains two additional electrons, there are a total of eight electrons in the valence shell.
• The charge on the sulfur ion is -2, as it has gained two electrons beyond its number of protons, becoming an anion with the symbol S²-.

The valence electrons are significant in the chemistry of sulfur because they determine how the atom will bond with others. This ion commonly pairs with other ions such as the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) to form compounds like ammonium sulfide ((NH₄)₂S).