JEE Main Chemistry question

Oxygen is divalent, but sulphur exhibits variable valency of 2, 4 and 6, because:

(A)Sulphur is less electronegative than oxygen
(B)Sulphur is a bigger atom than oxygen
(C)The ionization potential of sulphur is more than oxygen
(D)Of the presence of -orbitals in sulphurCorrect

Answer: (D)

Solution

Sulphur (period 3) has energetically accessible empty orbitals, allowing its paired (and even ) electrons to be promoted/unpaired upon excitation, exposing more unpaired

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Question ID VK-133744