The Language of Chemistry — Question 5

Eight metals which show variable valency are :

(a) Valency of sulphur in SO₂ is 4

By interchanging subscript and writing as superscript:

$\underset{\phantom{1}{1}}{\text{S}} \space {\nearrow}\mathllap{\nwarrow} \space \underset{2}{\text{O}} \Rightarrow \overset{\phantom{2}{2}}{\text{S}} \space {\nearrow}\mathllap{\nwarrow} \space \overset{1}{\text{O}} \\[0.5em]$

But valency of O is 2. Multiplying by 2, we get:

$\overset{{2 \times 2}}{\text{S}} \space {\nearrow}\mathllap{\nwarrow} \space \overset{2 \times 1}{\text{O}} \Rightarrow \overset{\phantom{4}{4}}{\text{S}} \space {\nearrow}\mathllap{\nwarrow} \space \overset{2}{\text{O}} \\[0.5em]$

Therefore, valency of Sulphur is 4.

(b) Valency of sulphur in SO₃ is 6

$\underset{\phantom{1}{1}}{\text{S}} \space {\nearrow}\mathllap{\nwarrow} \space \underset{3}{\text{O}} \Rightarrow \overset{\phantom{3}{3}}{\text{S}} \space {\nearrow}\mathllap{\nwarrow} \space \overset{1}{\text{O}} \\[0.5em]$

But valency of O is 2. Multiplying by 2, we get:

$\overset{{2 \times 3}}{\text{S}} \space {\nearrow}\mathllap{\nwarrow} \space \overset{2 \times 1}{\text{O}} \Rightarrow \overset{\phantom{6}{6}}{\text{S}} \space {\nearrow}\mathllap{\nwarrow} \space \overset{2}{\text{O}} \\[0.5em]$

Therefore, valency of Sulphur is 6.