What would be the electron dot structure of a molecule of sulphur which is made up of eight atoms of sulphur? (Hint – The eight atoms of sulphur are joined together in the form of a ring.)

To determine the electron dot structure (Lewis structure) of a molecule of sulfur made up of eight atoms of sulfur (S₈) arranged in the form of a ring, follow these steps:

1. Determine the Total Valence Electrons:

» Each sulfur atom has 6 valence electrons (since sulfur is in Group 6 of the periodic table).
» For 8 sulfur atoms (S₈), the total number of valence electrons is 8 atoms × 6 electrons per atom = 48 electrons.

2. Arrange the Atoms:

» Since sulfur is the same element, the sulfur atoms will be connected in a ring.

3. Connect Atoms with Single Bonds:

» Each sulfur atom will form a single bond with its neighboring sulfur atoms to create a ring.

4. Distribute Remaining Electrons:

» Distribute the remaining electrons around the sulfur atoms to satisfy the octet rule. In this case, since sulfur is in Group 6, each sulfur atom wants to have a total of 8 electrons in its outer shell.

5. Check for Octet Rule:

» Ensure that each sulfur atom in the ring has 8 electrons in its outer shell.
The Lewis structure for a molecule of sulfur made up of eight atoms of sulfur (S₈) arranged in the form of a ring is as follows:

S
║
S──S
| |
S──S
In this structure, the sulfur atoms are connected in a ring, and each sulfur atom forms a single bond with its adjacent sulfur atoms. The octet rule is satisfied for each sulfur atom in the molecule.