Hello everyone!
In class we did an example with SO4 2- where Dr. Lavelle added two double bonds and two single bonds. I was wondering why that was possible? Is this only possible with sulfur or is this possible with a number of others?
sulfur has more electrons than the octet?
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Re: sulfur has more electrons than the octet?
Hi! The professor said that he would go more into depth in his Wednesday lecture this week, but what he said so far in Monday's lecture what that since sulfur is in the n=3 orbital (third row of the periodic table) there are d-orbitals also involved, meaning there can be more than 8 valence electrons (there are only 8 electrons for the s and p orbitals combined). I'm sure he'll elaborate more on it tomorrow!
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Re: sulfur has more electrons than the octet?
Dr Lavelle briefly mentioned that this was because Sulfur is capable of expanding its octet, such that it can use up to 12 electrons in the d orbital to form bonds with other elements. I believe there are other elements that are also able to expand their octet-- Dr. Lavelle will likely explain this further in future lectures.
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Re: sulfur has more electrons than the octet?
Once we enter the 3rd energy level, the d orbital becomes available, allowing us to expand the octet to more than 8 electrons. So, no, this property is not exclusive to sulfur.
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Re: sulfur has more electrons than the octet?
You can only go beyond the octet when d orbitals are available. When we think about 8 valence electrons, this number comes from the outer s and p shells (s holds 2, p holds 6), but when the electron configuration involves d orbitals, we can go beyond this octet. You have to be however, because this does not work with all atoms. For example, C and O cannot have more than an octet.
Re: sulfur has more electrons than the octet?
If it is an element that can have d orbitals so those from the third row on then it can hove more than an octet
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