Respuesta :
Looking for the atom which has the smallest valence p atomic orbital among the choices (carbon, nitrogen, sulfur) requires one to look at a periodic table with electron configurations. The answer is carbon. It's p orbital only has 2 electrons. (Full configuration of carbon: 1s2 2s2 2p2) (Nitrogen has 2p3 while sulfur has 2p4.)
The atom with the smallest p valence orbital is carbon.
The valence atomic orbital in the atom has been the last orbital carrying the valence electrons responsible for the reactivity of the atom.
Smallest Valence p orbital
The p orbital has capacity of occupying 6 electrons. The smallest orbital has been given as one comprising the minimum number of valence electrons.
The number of p valence electrons in the following atoms are:
- [tex]\rm Carbon=1s^2\;2s^2\;2p^2\\ [/tex]
The number of electrons in valence p orbital of carbon has been 2.
- [tex]\rm Nitrogen=1s^2\;2s^2\;2p^3\\[/tex]
The number of electrons in valence p orbital of nitrogen has been 3.
- [tex]\rm Sulfur=1s^2\;2s^2\;2p^6\;3s^2\;3\;p^4\\[/tex]
The number of electrons in valence p orbital of sulfur has been 4.
The least number of valence electrons has been found in carbon. Thus, the atom with the smallest p valence orbital is carbon.
Learn more about atomic orbital, here:
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