Question

Question 49(e)
An element X which is a yellow solid at room temperature shows catenation and allotropy. X forms two oxides which are also formed during the thermal decomposition of ferrous sulphate crystals and are the major air pollutants.

Locate the position of the element in the Modern Periodic Table.

Answer 1

The element is sulphur. It is located in the 3^rd period and group 16 of the modern periodic table. The oxides formed are ${\text{SO}}_2$ and ${\text{SO}}_3$. The reaction involved in the oxides formation is as follows:

$2{\text{FeSO}}_4\text{(s)}\stackrel{\text{Heat}}{\to }{\text{Fe}}_2{\text{O}}_3\text{(s)}+{\text{SO}}_2\text{(g)}+{\text{SO}}_3\text{(g)}$