What is how many electrons can sulfur hold?

Sulfur (S) can hold a varying number of electrons depending on the context. Here's a breakdown:

• Neutral Sulfur Atom: In its neutral, elemental state, sulfur has 16 electrons, matching its atomic number.

• Electron Configuration: The electron configuration of sulfur is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴. This means the valence%20shell (the outermost shell) contains 6 electrons.

• Octet Rule: To achieve a stable octet, sulfur needs two more electrons.

• Expanded Octet: However, sulfur can also exceed the octet rule. Because it is in the third period, it has available d orbitals that can participate in bonding. This allows sulfur to form compounds where it is surrounded by more than eight electrons. For example, in SF₆ (sulfur hexafluoride), sulfur has 12 electrons around it.