An element X which is a yellow solid at room temperature shows catenation and allotropy. X forms two oxides which are also formed during the
thermal decomposition of ferrous sulphate crystals and are the major air pollutants.
(a) Identify the element X.
(b) Write the electronic configuration of X.
(c) Write the balanced chemical equation for the thermal decomposition of ferrous sulphate crystals.
(d) What would be the nature (acidic/basic) of oxides formed ?
(e) Locate the position of the element in the Modern Periodic Table.
(a) The available information suggests that the element X is sulphur.
(b) Electronic configuration of S(Z = 16) 2, 8, 6
(c) $2 \mathrm{FeSO}_{4} \cdot 7 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(s) \stackrel{\text { heat }}{\longrightarrow} \mathrm{Fe}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}(s)+\mathrm{SO}_{2}(g)+\mathrm{SO}_{3}(g)+7 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(g)$
(d) Fe2O3 (basic oxide), SO2(acidic oxide), SO3(acidic oxide)
(e) Sulphur is a member of group 16 and period 3.