Write the Atomicity of the Following: (i) Sulphur (ii) Phosphorus

(i) Sulphur – 8
(ii) Phosphorus – 4 

Sulphur naturally exists as an S₈ molecule.  This gives it an atomicity of 8. On the other hand, phosphorus forms tetrahedral P₄ units and has an atomicity of 4. Atomicity refers to counting the number of atoms present in a single molecule of an element. It is key to understanding molecular structure in Class 11 chemistry. By understanding the atomicity, you can know how elements bond with themselves to create stable structures. Identifying the sulphur’s crown-shaped S₈ ring versus phosphorus’s tetrahedral P₄ also showcases the diversity of elemental allotropes

What is Atomicity?

To answer the question-’Write the Atomicity of the Following: (i) Sulphur (ii) Phosphorus’ we need to first understand what atomicity is. Atomicity means the total number of atoms present in one molecule of an element. In the case of homonuclear elements (those bonded only to themselves), you can calculate it by dividing the molecular mass by the atomic mass. Otherwise, you can directly examine the molecular formula.

(i) Atomicity of Sulphur

Sulphur exists as the eight-atom ring S₈ in its rhombic and monoclinic forms. The eight sulfur atoms in each molecule give it the atomicity of 8.

(ii) Atomicity of Phosphorus

The atomicity of Phosphorus, on the other hand, is 4. This is because the White (and red) phosphorus exists as a tetrahedral P₄ molecule. It consists of four phosphorus atoms per molecule.

Why is Understanding the Atomicity Important for Class 11 Students?

There are plenty of reasons why knowing the answer to the question- Write the Atomicity of the Following: (i) Sulphur (ii) Phosphorus, is important. Some of these reasons are provided below:

1. Molecular insight- Learning about the atomicity helps predict molecular weight and stoichiometry in reactions. This helps in solving the questions regarding the molar mass and chemical equations.
2. Structural Understanding- Knowing that sulphur and phosphorus form rings and tetrahedra shows how bonding and electron pairs dictate real molecular shapes
3. Curriculum Relevance- Questions about atomicity can appear in the CBSE board exams. Therefore, it is best to know the answers.

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