Why can sulfur bond 6 times?
2. In the excited state, the vacant 3d-orbital is occupied by an electron each from 3p and 3s-orbitals as shown here.
3. Thus, in the excited state, there are six orbitals with unpaired electrons which become available for bonding. Sulphur hexafluoride () is an example of a compound where Sulphur has six bonds.
4. Sulphur can form six bonds due to the presence of vacant 3d-orbitals which get occupied on excitation and create six orbitals with unpaired electrons that become available for bonding.