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Friday, August 14, 2026

Identify the group of an element with the outer configuration ns 2 np 4 .

📚 Chapter: Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties

📘 Detailed Solution

🔵 Step 1: Identify the Outer Configuration

The given outer electronic configuration is:

ns²np⁴

Here, the valence shell contains:

ns² + np⁴

Therefore, the total number of valence electrons is:

2 + 4 = 6 valence electrons

🟢 Step 2: Determine the Group

For p-block elements, the general outer electronic configuration is:

ns²np¹ → Group 13
ns²np² → Group 14
ns²np³ → Group 15
ns²np⁴ → Group 16
ns²np⁵ → Group 17
ns²np⁶ → Group 18

Since the given configuration is ns²np⁴, the element belongs to Group 16.

🎬 Valence Electron Calculation

ns² + np⁴
↑↓ ↑↓ ↑ ↑
2 + 4 = 6 Valence Electrons
6 Valence Electrons → Group 16

🟣 Step 3: Examples

Elements having outer configuration ns²np⁴ belong to Group 16.

Element Outer Configuration Group
Oxygen (O) 2s²2p⁴ 16
Sulphur (S) 3s²3p⁴ 16
Selenium (Se) 4s²4p⁴ 16
Tellurium (Te) 5s²5p⁴ 16

🟠 Important Rule

For p-block elements, if the outer configuration is ns²npˣ, the group number is:

Group Number = 10 + Total Valence Electrons

For ns²np⁴:

10 + (2 + 4) = 10 + 6 = 16

✅ Final Answer

An element with the outer electronic configuration ns²np⁴ belongs to Group 16 of the modern periodic table.

Example: Oxygen (2s²2p⁴)

📝 20 MCQs with Answers

1. The outer configuration ns²np⁴ belongs to which group?

A) Group 14
B) Group 15
C) Group 16
D) Group 17
✅ Answer

C) Group 16


2. How many valence electrons are present in ns²np⁴?

A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 7
✅ Answer

C) 6


3. ns²np⁴ represents a:

A) s-block configuration
B) p-block configuration
C) d-block configuration
D) f-block configuration
✅ Answer

B) p-block configuration


4. Which element has the configuration 2s²2p⁴?

A) Carbon
B) Nitrogen
C) Oxygen
D) Fluorine
✅ Answer

C) Oxygen


5. Oxygen belongs to:

A) Group 14
B) Group 15
C) Group 16
D) Group 17
✅ Answer

C) Group 16


6. Sulphur has the outer configuration:

A) 3s²3p²
B) 3s²3p³
C) 3s²3p⁴
D) 3s²3p⁵
✅ Answer

C) 3s²3p⁴


7. Group 16 elements have how many valence electrons?

A) 4
B) 5
C) 6
D) 7
✅ Answer

C) 6


8. The p-block groups are:

A) 1–2
B) 3–12
C) 13–18
D) 1–18
✅ Answer

C) 13–18


9. The group number for ns²np¹ is:

A) 13
B) 14
C) 15
D) 16
✅ Answer

A) 13


10. The group number for ns²np² is:

A) 13
B) 14
C) 15
D) 16
✅ Answer

B) 14


11. The group number for ns²np³ is:

A) 14
B) 15
C) 16
D) 17
✅ Answer

B) 15


12. The group number for ns²np⁵ is:

A) 15
B) 16
C) 17
D) 18
✅ Answer

C) 17


13. The group number for ns²np⁶ is:

A) 16
B) 17
C) 18
D) 2
✅ Answer

C) 18


14. Which of the following belongs to Group 16?

A) N
B) O
C) F
D) Ne
✅ Answer

B) O


15. Group 16 is also known as:

A) Halogens
B) Chalcogens
C) Noble gases
D) Alkali metals
✅ Answer

B) Chalcogens


16. An element with 6 valence electrons in the p-block belongs to:

A) Group 14
B) Group 15
C) Group 16
D) Group 17
✅ Answer

C) Group 16


17. Which configuration represents a Group 16 element?

A) ns²np²
B) ns²np³
C) ns²np⁴
D) ns²np⁵
✅ Answer

C) ns²np⁴


18. Selenium belongs to:

A) Group 15
B) Group 16
C) Group 17
D) Group 18
✅ Answer

B) Group 16


19. The general valence configuration of Group 16 is:

A) ns²np²
B) ns²np³
C) ns²np⁴
D) ns²np⁵
✅ Answer

C) ns²np⁴


20. For p-block elements, the group number of ns²np⁴ can be found by:

A) 10 + 4
B) 10 + 6
C) 10 + 8
D) 18 + 6
✅ Answer

B) 10 + 6 = 16

Q1. Identify the group of an element having outer configuration ns²np⁴.

Solution: It has 6 valence electrons. Therefore, it belongs to Group 16.

Q2. Give one example of an element having the configuration ns²np⁴.

Solution: Oxygen has the configuration 2s²2p⁴ and belongs to Group 16.

Q1. Determine the group of an element with outer configuration ns²np⁴.

Solution:

  1. Number of s electrons = 2.
  2. Number of p electrons = 4.
  3. Total valence electrons = 2 + 4 = 6.
Group = 10 + 6 = 16

Hence, the element belongs to Group 16.

Q1. Explain how the group of a p-block element is determined from its outer electronic configuration.

Solution:

Outer Configuration Valence Electrons Group
ns²np¹313
ns²np²414
ns²np³515
ns²np⁴616
ns²np⁵717
ns²np⁶818

Therefore, ns²np⁴ → Group 16.

Q1. Explain the relationship between the outer electronic configuration and group number for p-block elements.

Solution:

The general outer electronic configuration of p-block elements is ns²np¹–⁶. The number of valence electrons determines the group number.

Group Number = 10 + Number of Valence Electrons

For ns²np⁴:

10 + (2 + 4) = 16

Thus, an element having the outer configuration ns²np⁴ belongs to Group 16.

Q1. Explain in detail how the group of an element with outer configuration ns²np⁴ is determined.

Solution:

The given outer electronic configuration is:

ns²np⁴

The element is a p-block element because the last electron enters a p-subshell.

The number of electrons in the outer shell is:

2 + 4 = 6 valence electrons

For p-block elements, the group number is obtained by adding 10 to the number of valence electrons:

Group Number = 10 + 6 = 16

Therefore, the element belongs to Group 16. Examples include oxygen, sulphur, selenium and tellurium.

🎯 Final Answer:

ns²np⁴ → 6 valence electrons → p-block → Group 16.

🎯 Quick Revision

Outer Configuration = ns²np⁴
Valence Electrons = 2 + 4 = 6
Block = p-block
Group = 10 + 6 = 16
Example = Oxygen (2s²2p⁴)