How to Find the Valence Electrons for Hydrogen Sulfide?
The total number of electrons in the last orbit of an element is called the valence electrons of that element. Two or more elements combine to form compounds.
The valence electrons of a compound are the sum of the total valence electrons of each element in that compound. Hydrogen sulfide consists of two atoms. One is a hydrogen atom and the other is a sulfur atom.
The valence electrons of hydrogen sulfide are the sum of the total valence electrons of hydrogen and sulfur in the compound H2S. The hydrogen sulfide compound has a total of eight electrons in the last orbits of hydrogen and sulfur.
Hence, the total number of valence electrons in hydrogen sulfide is eight. To determine the valence electrons of a compound, the number of valence electrons in each element of the compound must be known.
This article discusses in detail how to determine the valence electrons of hydrogen sulfide very easily. Hopefully, after reading this article you will know more about this topic.
How to easily determine the number of valence electrons of H2S?
The symbol form of hydrogen sulfide is H2S. To determine the valence electrons of H2S, it is first necessary to know the valence electrons of the sulfur and hydrogen atoms.
To determine the valence electrons of hydrogen sulfide we have to follow two steps. It is shown below:
Step 1: Determine the valence electrons of hydrogen and sulfur atoms
The atomic number of hydrogen is 1. So its total number of electrons is one. The electron configuration of hydrogen shows that it has one electron in its last orbit.
We already know that the electrons in the last orbit of an element are the valence electrons of that element. Therefore, the valence electrons of hydrogen are one.
On the other hand, the atomic number of sulfur is 16. So its total number of electrons is sixteen. The electron configuration of sulfur shows that it has six electrons in its last orbit. Therefore, the valence electrons of sulfur are six.
Step 2: Determine the total number of valence electrons in the hydrogen sulfide compound
Hydrogen sulfide is a compound. It is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one sulfur atom.
Therefore, adding the valence electrons of two hydrogen atoms and the valence electrons of one sulfur atom can easily determine the valence electrons of hydrogen sulfide.
Mathematical Analysis:
H2S
= (1×2) + 6
= 8
Hydrogen (H) | Sulfur (S) | Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) |
1 | 6 | 8 |
From the above mathematical analysis, we can see that the total number of electrons in the outermost orbit of hydrogen sulfide is eight. Therefore, the valence electrons of hydrogen sulfide are eight.
Why do you need to know the valence electrons of an element?
In addition to knowing the number of electrons of an element, it is also necessary to know the number of valence electrons of that element. The number of valence electrons of an element carries important properties of that element.
Many important properties of elements and compounds can be determined by valence electrons. Some important features are mentioned below:
- Determining the element’s position in the periodic table
- Determining the number of groups of elements in the periodic table
- Determining Valency
- Lewis dot formation
- Determination of the molecular structure of the compound
- Determination of bond pairs and non-pair electrons of compounds
Valence electrons are related to the characteristics of a compound. So we need to know the valence electrons of all the elements to determine the properties of compounds.