Question

An element 'X' which is yellow solid at room temp. shows catenation and allotropy , 'X' forms two oxides which are also formed during the thermal decomposition of ferrous sulphate crystals and are major air pollutants.

Q1 - identify element 'X'.

Q2 - Write the electronic configuration of 'X'

Q3 - Identify the two oxides.

Q4 - What would be nature (acidic/basic) of oxides formed ?

Q5 - Locate the position of element 'X' in the modern periodic table.

Answer 1

The yellow colour reflects that, the element must be sulphur (S) with atomic no. 16.
Electronic configuration = 2,8,6 (1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁴)
The oxides formed are = SO₂ and SO₃
The oxides of sulpare acidic in nature
Position in periodic table is given as : Valence electron= 6, so group no. = 10 + v.e. = 10 + 6 = 16
The principal shell(n) = 3 , so period no. = 3